THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

GIFT  OF 

Kemaeth  Macgowan 


JANE  CLEGG 


JANE  CLEGG:  A  PLAY  IN  THREE  ACTS. 
BY  ST  JOHN  G.  ERVINE 


NEW  YORK :  HENRY  HOLT  &  COMPANY 

LONDON:  SIDGWICK  &  JACKSON,  LTD. 

1915 


Copyright,  191$,  by  Sidgwick  <Sf  Jackson,  Ltd. 
All  rights  reserved. 


Printed  in  Great  Britain. 
First  Impression,  August  1914- 
Second  Impression,  June  1915. 


6009 


TO 


BERNARD  SHAW 


572372 


PERSONS  IN  THE  PLAY 

HENRY  CLEGO. 
JANE  CLEGG,  his  wife. 

JOHNNIE  CLEGG  \ 

>  his  children. 
JENNY  CLEGG     ) 

MRS  CLEGG,  his  mother. 
MR  MORRISON. 
MR  MUNCB. 


Jane  Clegg  was  performed  for  the  first  time  at  the 
Gaiety  Theatre,  Manchester,  on  April  21st,  1913,  by 
Miss  Horniman's  Company,  with  the  following  cast : — 

HENRY  CLEGG  .  .  MR  BERNARD  COPPING 

JANE  CLEGG       .  .  Miss  SYBIL  THORNDIKK 

MRS  CLEGG       .  .  Miss  CLARE  GREET 

JENNY  CLEGG    .  .  Miss  MABEL  SALKELD 

JOHNNIE  CLEGG  .  MASTER  TOMMY  NICKSON 

MR  MUNCE        .  .  MR  ELIOT  MAKEHAM 

MR  MORRISON  .  .  MR  ERNEST  HAINES 

It  was  subsequently  played  by  the  same  Company  at 
the  Royal  Court  Theatre,  Sloane  Square,  London,  on 
May  19th,  1913. 

The  play  was  produced  by  Mr  Lewis  Casson. 


JANE  CLEGG 
ACT  I 

JANE  CLEGG,  a  tall,  dark  woman,  aged  thirty-two 
years,  is  seated  at  a  large  table,  sewing.  It 
is  almost  nine  o'clock,  and,  as  the  evening  is 
chilly,  a  bright  fire  burns  in  the  grate.  The 
room  has  a  cosy  air,  although  it  is  furnished 
in  the  undistinguished  manner  characteristic 
of  the  homes  of  lower  middle-class  people. 
A  corner  of  the  table  is  reserved  for  a  meal 
for  a  late-comer.  JOHNNIE  and  JENNY,  aged 
ten  and  eight  years  respectively,  are  playing 
on  a  rug  in  front  of  the  fire.  The  girl  is 
impatient  and  sometimes  knocks  over  the 
structures  which  her  brother  laboriously 
builds.  MRS  CLEGG,  the  grandmother  of 
the  children,  is  seated  in  a  low  rocking-chair, 
her  arms  folded  across  her  breast,  idly 
watching  them.  She  is  a  stout,  coarse,  and 
very  sentimental  woman,  and  her  voice 
has  in  it  a  continual  note  of  querulousness. 
She  glances  at  the  clock  and  then  speaks  to 
her  daughter-in-law. 


2  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

MRS  CLEGG.     I  can't  think  wot's  keepin'  'Enry. 

JANE  CLEGG.  [without  looking  up  from  her 
sewing.]  Busy,  I  suppose. 

MRS  CLEGG.  'E's  always  busy.  I  don't 
believe  men  are  'all  so  busy  as  they  make  out 
they  are  !  Besides  I  know  'Enry  !  I  'aven't 
'ad  the  motherin'  of  'im  for  nothink.  'E  don't 
kill  'imself  with  work,  'Enry  don't. 

JANE  CLEGG.  [in  an  undertone.]  Oh,  hush, 
mother,  before  the  children. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Oh,  I  daresay  they  know  all 
about  'im.  Children  knows  more  about  their 
parents  nowadays  than  their  parents  knows 
about  them,  from  wot  I  can  see  of  it. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Henry's  work  keeps  him  out 
late\  It  isn't  as  if  he  had  regular  hours  like 
othei  men.  A  traveller  isn't  like  ordinary 
people. 

MRS  CLEGG.  No,  that's  true.  It  isn't  a  proper 
life  for  a  man,  not  travellin'  isn't.  A  married 
fnan,  any'ow.  They  see  too  much.  I  don't  be- 
'lieve  in  men  seein'  too  much.  It  unsettles  'em. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Oh,  I  don't  know  !  Some  men 
are  born  to  be  unsettled  and  some  aren't.  I 
suppose  that's  the  way  with  everything. 

MRS  CLEGG.  You  take  things  too  calm,  you 
do.  I  'aven't  any  patience  with  you  !  Look 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  3 

at  the  way  you  took  it  when  'e  went  after  that 
woman !   .   .   . 

JANE  CLEGG.     Oh,  please,  please  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.  I'd  'ave  tore  'er  'air  off.  That 
was  the  least  you  could  'ave  done. 

JENNY,  [knocking  the  bricks  over.]  Oh,  I'm 
tired  of  this  game. 

JOHNNIE.     There  !     You've  gone  and  done  it 
again.     Why  can't  you  play  properly  ? 

MRS  CLEGG.     Wot  you  playin'  at,  Johnnie  ? 

JOHNNIE,     [crossly.]    A  game,  grannie  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.  I  know  you're  playin'  a  game  ! 
What  kind  of  a  game  ? 

JOHNNIE,  [beginning  to  build  up  the  bricks 
again.]  Oh,  only  a  game,  grannie.  I'm  pre- 
tending to  be  mother,  and  Jenny's  pretending 
to  be  father.  We're  building  a  house  with  these 
bricks,  but  it's  no  good.  .  .  .  Jenny  keeps  on 
knocking  it  all  down. 

JANE  CLEGG.   Jenny,  dear,  that's  very  naughty ! 

JENNY.     It  takes  so  long,  mother  ! 

JOHNNIE.  Well,  you  can't  play  this  game 
unless  you  go  slowly.  It's  awful  responsibility 
building  a  house. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Don't  use  such  big  words, 
Johnnie.  It  isn't  natural  for  a  child  your  age 
to  be  talkin'  like  that. 


4  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

JENNY,  laughing  mischievously,  scatters  the 
bricks. 

Oh,  oh,  you  naughty  little  girl !     'Owever  could 
you! 

JOHNNIE.  Oh,  don't,  Jenny  1  You've  spoilt 
it  all. 

JENNY.  It's  such  a  silly  game  1  Let's  play 
something  quick. 

JANE  CLEGG.     Jenny,  you  must  go  to  bed. 

JENNY,     [petulantly.]    Oh,  mother ! 

MRS  CLEGG.  You  'aven't  no  patience,  young 
woman,  that's  wot  you  'aven't. 

JOHNNIE.     She  spoils  everything. 

JENNY.  Well,  I  like  quick  games.  Building 
houses  takes  an  awful  long  time.  Let's  play 
something  else  ! 

JANE  CLEGO.  No,  Jenny,  you  must  go 
to  bed.  You  can't  play  any  more  games 
to-night. 

JENNY.     Mother ! 

JANE  CLEGG.     Run  along,  now  1 

MRS  CLEGG.  See  !  That's  wot  you  get  for 
bein'  naughty. 

JENNY.     I  didn't  mean  to  be  naughty,  mother. 

JOHNNIE.     No,  but  you  were. 

JENNY.  Please,  mother,  I'm  sorry.  Let  me 
stay  up  a  little  while  longer. 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  5 

She  puts  her  arms  about  her  mother's  neck 
affectionately. 

JANE  CLEGG.     That'll  do,  dear.     Kiss  grannie, 
and  go  to  bed. 

JENNY,     [beginning    to    whimper.]    I    didn't 
mean  any  harm  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.    [kissing  her.]    Good-night,  dear ! 
The  child  stands  about  reluctantly,  rubbing 
her  eyes. 
Now,  run  along  quickly  ! 

JENNY.     I  don't  want  to  go  yet. 
MRS  CLEGG.     Let  'er  stay  up  a  while  longer, 
'til  'er  father  comes  'ome.     She  didn't  mean  to 
be  naughty,  did  you,  dear  ? 

She  putts  JENNY  to  her,  and  clasps  her  in 
her  arms. 

JENNY,     [still  whimpering.]    No,  grannie. 
MRS  CLEGG.  •   There,  you  see,  she  didn't  mean  it. 
MRS  CLEGG.     Kiss  your  grannie   good-night, 
Jenny,  and  go  to  bed. 

JENNY,     [now  crying  loudly.]    Father'd  let  me 
stay  up. 

MRS  CLEGG.     You  might  as  well  let  'er  stay 
now.     You  forgive  'er,  don't  you,  Johnnie  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.    [firmly.]     Jenny,  go  to  bed  at 
once,  dear. 
MRS  CLEGG.     [hurriedly  and  testily.]    Oh,  my 


6  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

dear  Jane,  don't  lose  your  temper,  wotever  you 
do  !  [to  JENNY.]  'Ere,  my  sweet 'eart,  gimme 
a  kiss  and  say  good-night.  There,  there,  now  ! 
You  know  it  was  your  own  fault,  don't  you  ? 
You  were  a  naughty  girl,  weren't  you  ?  Now, 
now,  stop  cryin',  do  !  I  can't  bear  to  'ear  a 
child  cryin'.  'Ere,  'ere's  a  penny  for  you  ! 

JENNY,     [putting  up   her   lips  to  be  kissed.] 
Good-night,  grannie. 

MRS    CLEGG.     [kissing    her    warmly.]    Good- 
night, my  sweet'eart. 

JENNY  goes  sulkily  towards  the  door. 

JANE  CLEGG.     Kiss  your  brother  good-night, 
Jenny  ! 

JENNY.     No,  I  don't  want  to. 

JANE  CLEGG.     Kiss  your  brother  good-night, 
Jenny ! 

JENNY  stands  irresolutely  for  a  moment,  and 
then  goes  toward  her  brother.  She  kisses 
him,  and  then,  after  a  pause,  gives  him  a 
push  which  knocks  him  over. 

JENNY.     There,  spiteful  thing  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.     Oh,  you  wicked  little  girl  1 

JANE  CLEGG.     Jenny ! 

JENNY.     What  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.     Come  here. 

JENNY.     Yes,  mother. 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  7 

She  approaches  her  mother. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Why  did  you  strike  Johnnie 
like  that  ? 

JENNY.  I  don't  know,  mother.  I  just 
wanted  to. 

MRS  CLEGG.  But  you  shouldn't  just  want  to 
do  things. 

JOHNNIE.  She  didn't  hurt  me,  mother.  You 
didn't  mean  to  hurt  me,  did  you,  Jenny  ? 

JENNY,     [crying  again].     No. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Well,  say  you're  sorry,  and  go 
to  bed. 

JENNY,  [putting  her  arms  round  JOHNNIE'S 
neck.]  I'm  sorry,  Johnnie.  I  didn't  mean  to 
be  unkind. 

JOHNNIE  kisses  her  ardently. 

JOHNNIE.  I'll  come  to  bed,  too,  Jenny,  so's 
you  shan't  be  lonely. 

MRS  CLEGG.     There,  now  !     Isn't  that  just  like 
the  Good  Samaritan  ?    You  are   a  good   boy, 
Johnnie.     'Ere  !     'Ere's  a  kiss  for  you. 
She  kisses  him  noisily. 

JOHNNIE.     You  gave  Jenny  a  penny. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Oh,  oh,  that's  wot  it  is,  is  it  ? 
Well,  'ere  you  are  then.  Now  run  along  the  two 
of  you,  and  don't  get  quarrellin'  together,  wot- 
ever  you  do. 


8  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

JOHNNIE.    Thank  you,  grannie. 

He  kisses  her,  and  then  kisses  his  mother. 
Good-night,  mother.     Oh,  I  forgot  the  bricks. 
I  must  put  them  away.     Jenny,  come  and  help. 

JENNY.     No,  I  don't  want  to. 

MBS  CLEGG.     Oh,  now,  that  is  ungrateful  of 
you. 

JENNY.     I'm  going  to  bed.     Good-night ! 
She  goes  out. 

MRS  CLEGG.  That  child  gets  more  'eadstrong 
every  day.  Jus'  like  'er  father  was,  bless  'er. 
And  yet  I  can't  help  likin'  'er  for  it.  It  reminds 
me  of  'im  w'en  'e  was  'er  age  ! 

JOHNNIE,     [who  has  collected  his  toys  and  put 
them  away.]     Good-night,  grannie  and  mother. 
He  kisses  them  again  and  goes  out. 

MRS  CLEGG.  You  was  a  bit  'ard  on  'er,  Jane, 
I  must  say. 

JANE  CLEGG.  She  must  do  what  she  is  told. 
I  wish  you  wouldn't  intercede  for  her  and  give 
her  pennies.  It  only  makes  her  worse. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Well,  well,  I  can't  'elp  it.  She's 
so  like  'er  poor  father  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  wish  Henry  would  come  home. 
It  isn't  often  he's  as  late  as  this. 

MRS  CLEGG.  [sniffily.]  Goodness  only  knows 
where  'e  is  !  Though  'e  is  my  own  son,  'e  don't 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  9 

be'ave  proper,  and  it's  your  fault  for  lettin' 
'im. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  can't  prevent  him  from  doing 
what  he  likes. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Yes,  you  can.  Any  woman  can. 
Watch  'im,  that's  wot  you  got  to  do.  Never 
take  your  eyes  off  a  them.  That's  wot  I  done 
with  'is  father.  'E  was  the  same,  always 
wanted  to  be  gallivantin'  about.  Busy,  'e  said. 
I  busied  'im.  I  never  'ardly  let  'im  out  of  my 
sight. 

JANE  CLEGG.  What's  the  good  of  talking  like 
that.  I  can't  follow  Henry  everywhere.  Your 
husband's  work  was  at  home.  It  was  easy  for 
you  to  watch  him.  Besides,  I  don't  want  to 
watch  Henry.  I  don't  see  any  pleasure  in  being 
married  to  a  man  who  has  to  be  watched. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Oh,  you're  unnacherl,  you  are. 
I  wouldn't  'ave  felt  'appy  if  I  didn't  know  all 
George  was  doin'  of.  It  isn't  as  if  you  'adn't 
no  reason  to  watch  'im. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Well,  that's  all  over  now, 
isn't  it. 

MRS  CLEGG.  I'm  sure  I  'ope  so.  It  was  a 
perfect  scandal  the  way  'e  went  on  with  that 
.  .  .  wot  was  'er  name  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.     I  don't  know.     Does  it  matter  ? 


10  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

MRS  CLEGG.  No,  I  suppose  it  don't.  The 
brazened  'ussy  !  Wot  I  can't  understand  is  why 
you  was  so  calm  about  it. 

JANE  CLEGG.     You  have  to  make  allowances. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Allowances  !  There's  a  limit  to 
allowances.  That's  wot  I  think. 

JANE  CLEGG.  [rising  and  putting  her  sewing 
away.]  Yes,  I  suppose  so. 

MRS  CLEGG.  I  suppose  you  must  be  fond  of 
'im,  or  you  wouldn't  'ave  married  'im. 

JANE  CLEGG.     I  was  very  fond  of  him. 

MRS  CLEGG.     But  you're  not  now,  eh  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  [returning  to  her  seat.]  Oh,  I 
don't  know  about  that.  I  suppose  I'm  as  fond 
of  him  as  any  woman  is  of  her  husband  after 
she's  been  married  to  him  twelve  years.  It's  a 
long  time,  isn't  it  ? 

MRS  CLEGG.     'Orrible  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  Do  you  know  why  I  didn't  leave 
Henry  when  that  happened  ?  It  was  simply 
because  I  couldn't. 

MRS  CLEGG.     'Ow  du  mean  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  Isn't  it  simple  enough  ? 
Johnnie  was  four  and  Jenny  was  two.  Henry 
had  a  good  situation.  If  I  had  left  him,  I  should 
not  have  earned  more  than  a  pound  a  week  at 
the  best,  and  I  couldn't  have  looked  after  the 


ACT  il  JANE  CLEGG  11 

children  and  worked  as  well.  I  don't  suppose  I 
should  have  got  work  at  all  here.  A  woman  who 
leaves  her  husband  on  moral  grounds  is  treated 
as  badly  as  a  woman  who  runs  away  with  another 
man. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Well,  of  course,  it  isn't  right  to 
leave  your  'usband.  Till  death  do  you  part, 
that's  wot  the  Bible  says.  I  wasn't  'intin'  at 
anythink  of  that  sort.  I  only  suggested  that 
you  should  be  firm  with  'im. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Why  shouldn't  I  leave  him,  if 
he  isn't  loyal  ? 

MRS  CLEGG.  Oh,  my  dear,  'ow  can  you  ask 
such  a  question  ?  Wotever  would  people  say  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.    But  why  shouldn't  I  leave  him  ? 

MRS  CLEGG.  Because  it  isn't  right,  that's 
why. 

JANE  CLEGG.     But  why  isn't  it  right. 

MRS  CLEGG.  You  are  a  one  for  askin'  ques- 
tions !  Nice  thing  it  would  be  I'm  sure  if  women 
started  leavin'  their  'usbands  like  that. 

JANE  CLEGG.  If  I'd  been  able  to,  I  should 
have  left  Henry  then.  I  hadn't  any  money,  so 
I  couldn't. 

MRS  CLEGG.  This  is  wicked,  this  is.  Doesn't 
the  Bible  say  you  should  take  'im  for  better  or 
worse  ? 


12  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

JANE  CLEGG.     The  Prayer  Book  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.     Well,  it's  the  same  thing. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  don't  care  what  it  says.  It 
isn't  right  to  ask  a  woman  to  take  a  man  for 
worse.  Or  a  man  to  take  a  woman. 

MRS  CLEGG.  But  you  promised.  You  knew 
wot  you  was  doin'  of. 

JANE  CLEGG.  No,  I  didn't.  Do  you  think  I 
knew  that  Henry  did  that  sort  of  thing,  or  that 
I  would  have  married  him  if  I  had  ?  He  married 
me  under  false  pretences,  that's  what  he  did. 
He  knew  that  woman  before  he  married  me.  If 
he  told  a  lie  about  his  samples,  he'd  be  put  in 
jail,  but  no  one  thinks  anything  of  his  lying 
to  me. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Well,  men  is  men,  and  there's  an 
end  of  it.  You  just  'ave  to  put  up  with  them. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  don't  believe  in  putting  up 
with  things  unless  you  can't  help  yourself.  I 
couldn't  help  myself  before,  but  I  can  now. 
Uncle  Tom's  money  makes  that  possible. 

MRS  CLEGG.  That  made  'im  angry,  that  did. 
When  you  wouldn't  let  'im  'ave  the  money  to 
start  for  'imself . 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  know  quite  well  he'd  have 
lost  it  all.  He's  a  good  traveller,  but  he  couldn't 
control  a  business  of  his  own.  He's  not  that 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  13 

sort.  I  made  up  my  mind  when  I  got  the  money 
that  I  would  spend  it  on  Johnny  and  Jenny.  I 
want  to  give  them  both  a  good  chance.  You 
know  how  fond  Johnny  is  of  playing  with  engines 
and  making  things.  I  want  to  spend  the  money 
on  making  an  engineer  of  him,  if  that's  what  he 
wants  to  be.  I  couldn't  bear  the  thought  of 
him  becoming  one  of  those  little  clerks  !  .  .  . 
[She  makes  a  shuddering  gesture.]  Oh  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.     There's  worse  than  clerks. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  daresay.  Why  should  I  give 
my  money  to  Henry  ? 

MRS  CLEGG.     'E's  your  'usband,  isn't  'e  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  don't  see  what  that's  got  to 
do  with  it. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Well,  that  beats  all.  I  thought 
you  was  a  Christian,  Jane. 

JANE  CLEGG.  [wearily.]  Oh,  I  don't  know 
what  I  am.  I  only  know  I'm  made  to  do  things 
that  I  can't  understand  for  no  earthly  reason 
whatever.  I  must  do  this  and  I  must  do  that, 
and  no  one  tells  me  why,  I  wish  I'd  been  well- 
educated. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Thank  goodness  you're  not.  I 
don't  believe  in  all  this  education  for  women. 
It  unsettles  them.  I've  never  been  educated, 
and  I'm  'appy  enough. 


14  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

JANE  CLEGG.     So's  a  worm,  I  suppose. 

MRS  CLEGG.  [bridling.]  Of  course,  if  you're 
going  to  insult  me  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  No,  I  don't  want  to  do  that. 
I  only  mean  that  being  content  isn't  everything. 
I  want  to  know  things.  I  hate  being  told  to  do 
things  without  knowing  why  I  should  do  them. 
It  doesn't  seem  right  somehow  to  have  a  mind 
and  not  use  it. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Well,  I  don't  know  wot  you 
mean.  I  believe  in  bein'  'appy  no  matter  wot 
'appens.  That's  good  enough  for  me.  I  don't 
want  to  know  things.  I  want  to  be  let  alone, 
an'  be  'appy. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Mebbe  you're  right.  [They 
are  quiet  for  a  moment.]  Oh,  isn't  it  just  awful 
to  think  that  I  shall  sit  here  always,  mending 
things  and  waiting  for  Henry  to  come  home  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.  No,  it  isn't  awful  at  all.  It's 
nacherl.  It's  always  bin  like  that,  and  it  always 
will.  It's  no  good  flyin'  in  the  face  of  Providence. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  never  see  anything  or  go  any- 
where. I  have  to  cook  and  wash  and  nurse  and 
mend  and  teach !  .  .  .  And  then  I'm  not 
certain  of  Henry.  That's  what's  so  hard.  I 
give  him  everything,  and  he  isn't  faithful. 

MRS  CLEGG.     'E  was  always  a  man  for  women. 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  15 

There's  a  lot  like  that.  They  don't  mean  no 
'arm,  but  some'ow  they  do  it.  I  'eard  tell  once 
of  someone  that  said  it  was  silly  of  women  to 
complain  about  things  like  that,  and  mebbe  'e 
was  right.  They're  not  made  like  us,  men 
aren't.  I  never  wanted  but  one  man  in  my  life, 
but  my  'usband,  bless  'im,  'e  was  never  satisfied. 
'E  used  to  say  it  near  broke  'is  'eart  to  be  a 
Christian  !  'E  'ad  a  great  respect  for  Turks  an' 
foreigners.  'Enry  takes  after  'im.  [She  pauses 
for  a  moment.}  I  dunno  !  Men's  a  funny  lot 
wotever  way  you  take  them,  an'  it's  my  belief  a 
wise  woman  shuts  'er  eyes  to  more'n  'alf  wot 
goes  on  in  the  world.  She'd  be  un'appy  if  she 
didn't,  an'  it's  no  good  bein'  un'appy. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I'm  not  like  that.  I  demand 
as  much  as  I  give.  It  isn't  fair  to  take  all  and 
give  nothing. 

MRS  CLEGG.     [impatiently.]    But !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  Oh,  I  know  what  you're  going 
to  say.  I  don't  care  what  men  say  or  what 
anybody  says  ;  Henry  must  give  me  as  much 
as  I  give  to  him.  That's  only  decent. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Well,  I'm  sure  I  'ope  you  get  it. 
There's  few  women  does.  Men  is  guilty  sinners. 
You  can't  get  over  that.  If  they  ain't  sinnin' 
one  way,  they're  sinnin'  another,  an'  you  can't 


16  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

stop  'em.    The  Lord  can't  do  it,  an'  it  ain't 

likely  you  can. 

The  street  door  is  opened  and  slammed  to. 
JANE  CLEGG.     I  suppose  this  is  him  ! 

The  door  opens,  and  HENRY  CLEGG,  a  middle- 
sized  man,  good-natured,  genial,  fairly  hand- 
some, though  a  little  fleshly  and  somewhat 
•weak -looking,  ENTERS.  His  manner  is 
brisk.  He  has  a  quick  way  of  speaking,  and 
his  actions  are  rapid.  He  is  a  man  of 
nervous  temperament,  to  whom  repose  is 
impossible.  Although  he  is  superficially 
open  and  frank,  there  is  about  him  an  air 
of  furtiveness,  almost  meanness,  and  he  will 
turn  away  quickly  from  a  steady  look.  He 
goes  to  his  wife  and  kisses  her. 
HENRY  CLEGG.  Well,  old  girl,  feeling  anxious, 

eh  ?     [He  goes  to  his  mother  and  kisses  her.] 
JANE  CLEGG.    I  thought  you  were  probably 

working  late. 

MRS  CLEGG.     You  didden  ought  to  be  so  late, 

'Enry,  you  know  you  oughtn't. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     I  had  to  go  into  the  country 

this  morning  about  a  big  order.     Hadn't  time  to 

look  round  or  do  anything.     [He   goes   to   the 

table.]     Is  this  my  supper  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.      Yes. 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  17 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Any  letters  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  [taking  a  letter  off  the  fireplace 
and  handing  it  to  him.]  Yes,  this  one  was 
brought  round  from  the  office  this  afternoon  by 
a  boy.  I've  not  seen  him  before. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [taking  the  letter,  and  opening 
it]  Thanks.  Oh,  yes,  they  got  a  new  boy  in  a 
day  or  two  ago.  [He  glances  hastily  through  the 
Utter.]  What'd  they  send  it  to  me  for  ?  [He 
looks  at  a  cheque  which  is  enclosed  with  the  letter.] 
Now,  there's  a  dam  silly  thing  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.      What  IS  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Armstrong  &  Brown  have 
settled  their  account  and  the  cheque's  made 
payable  to  me.  Someb'dy  ought  to  get  the 
sack  for  that ! 

MRS  CLEGG.  Why  ?  You're  honest,  aren't 
you? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Yes,  mother,  but  supposing  I 
wasn't,  eh  ? 

MRS  CLEGG.  'Ow  can  you  talk  like  that, 
'Enry,  an'  you  brought  up  the  way  you  was. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  All  very  fine,  mother.  If  I 
wasn't  honest,  and  was  to  hop  round  to  the  bank 
to-morrow  morning,  and  cash  this — well,  it  'ud 
be  all  umpydoodelum  with  some  chap's  job, 
that's  all.  [He  puts  the  letter  and  cheque  in  his 


18  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

pocket-book,  and  sitting  down,  commences  to  eat 
his  meal.]  I'm  done  up.  Absolutely.  Worn- 
out  with  work.  The  chaps  at  the  office  are  all 
cursing  and  swearing  at  the  amount  they  have 
to  do. 

MRS  CLEGG.  [becoming  concerned.]  Poor 
'Enry  !  'E  ought  to  get  more  'elp,  Mr  'Arper 
ought.  It  ain't  right  to  work  people  so  'ard. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  He'll  never  get  any  more 
help.  He's  not  that  sort.  Work  the  life  and 
soul  out  of  you,  he  will.  It's  enough  to  make  a 
chap  turn  Socialist. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Oh,  don't  you  go  an'  get  mixed 
up  with  none  of  them.  I've  'card  some  'orrible 
things  about  them. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Why  don't  you  and  the  others 
refuse  to  be  overworked  ?  He'd  have  to  give 
in  if  you  stood  up  to  him. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Stand  up  to  him  !  Fancy  a 
lot  of  mouldy  clerks  standin'  up  to  anyone.  It's 
no  good  me  standin'  up  by  myself  :  the  others 
wouldn't  support  me,  and  I'd  get  the  sack. 
Jolly  glad  some  of  'em  would  be  to  get  my  job. 

MRS  CLEGG.  If  there  was  a  woman  or  two  in  your 
office,  I  bet  you  they'd  soon  show  Mr  'Arper  they 
wouldn't  be  treated  the  way  'e  treats  you  men. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Yes,  I  daresay.     It's  all  very 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  19 

well  for  a  lot  of  women  to  talk.  They  haven't 
got  any  responsibilities.  [JANE  CLEGG  laughs.] 
Oh,  you  can  laugh.  These  young  girls  comin' 
into  offices,  what  responsibility  have  they  got, 
eh  ?  Live  on  their  fathers  they  do,  and  then 
go  and  take  low  salaries  and  do  their  fathers 
out  of  jobs.  It's  easy  enough  to  be  independent 
when  you've  got  someone  to  fall  back  on.  Who 
could  I  fall  back  on  if  I  got  the  sack,  eh  ? 

MRS  CLEGG.  Well,  you'd  be  all  right.  Jane 
wouldn't  see  you  go  short  if  you  was  to  lose 
your  place,  not  with  all  that  money  of  hers. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Her  money  !  Huh  !  Fat  lot 
of  good  it  is  to  me. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Shall  I  get  you  some  more  meat, 
Henry  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [stretching  himself  in  the 
manner  of  a  replete  animal.]  No,  thanks.  I've 
had  enough  ! 

He  rises  and  crosses  to  the  fire,  and  sits  down 
beside  his  mother.  He  lights  a  pipe  JANE 
removes  the  remnants  of  the  meal. 

MRS  CLEGG.  [taking  a  cushion  from  behind  her.] 
'Ere,  'Enry,  put  that  be'ind  you.  You  must  be 
wore  out. 

She  rises  and  puts  the  cushion  behind  his 
head.  He  settles  himself  into  it  comfortably. 


20  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  could  have  done  well  for  my- 
self  with  that  money  if  Jane  had  let  me  have  it. 

MRS  CLEGG.  I  know  you  could,  'Enry.  I've 
often  told  her  that.  [JANE  re-enters  the  room.] 
'Aven't  I,  Jane  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.     What,  mother  ? 

MRS  CLEGG.  'Aven't  I  often  tole  you  wot  good 
use  'Enry  could  'ave  made  of  your  money  if  you'd 
on'y  let  'im  'ave  it  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.     Yes,  mother,  you  have. 

MRS  CLEGG.  See  !  But  she  don't  take  no 
interest  in  wot  I  say.  Says  you're  not  fit  to  'ave 
charge  of  it ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [angrily.]  Who's  not  fit  to 
have  charge  of  it  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  didn't  say  that.  I  said  you 
were  not  so  good  at  managing  a  business  of  your 
own,  as  you  are  at  being  a  traveller.  That  was 
all. 

HENRY  CLEGG.    How  do  you  know,  eh  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.       I  just  knOW. 

She  brings  a  chair  up  to  the  fire,  and  sits 
down  between  her  husband  and  her  mother- 
in-law. 
HENRY  CLEGG.     [surlily.]    Blasted  fine  thing, 

I  must  say,  when  a  man's  own  wife  makes  little 

of  him. 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  21 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  don't  make  little  of  you, 
Henry.  I  just  treat  you  as  you  are. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  could  have  doubled  that 
money  three  times  over.  I  could  still  do  it.  I 
heard  to-day  about  something  !  .  .  .  Look  here, 
Jane,  if  you  would  let  me  have  two  hundred  of 
it,  I  could  pull  off  a  good  thing  in  about  six 
months.  Straight,  I  could. 

JANE  CLEGG.     What  could  you  pull  off  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Well,  I  can't  give  many  par- 
ticulars about  it,  because  I  told  the  chap  I 
wouldn't  say  a  word  to  anyone,  not  even  to  you. 
He  knew  you'd  come  in  for  a  bit  of  money,  and 
he  mentioned  it  himself.  He  naturally  thought 
I  could  get  the  money  easy  enough.  I  didn't 
like  to  tell  him  you'd  got  it,  and  wouldn't  let 
me  have  any  of  it.  Makes  a  man  look  such  a 
damned  fool,  that  sort  of  thing.  It's  a  bit  of  a 
spec,  at  present,  of  course,  and  there's  one  or 
two's  after  it.  That's  why  he  told  me  not  to 
tell  anyone. 

MRS  CLEGG.  I  should  think  you  could  tell 
Jane.  That's  on'y  nacherel,  she  bein'  your 
wife. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     No,  I  promised  I  wouldn't. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Don't  bother,  Henry.  I  know 
you  don't  like  breaking  promises.  Your  friend 


22  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

won't  get  my  money.     I've  made  up  my  mind 
that  I  shall  keep  it  for  Johnnie  and  Jenny. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [with  great  fury.]  There,  you 
hear  that,  mother !  That's  the  sort  of  woman 
she  is.  Not  a  spark  of  love  for  me  in  her. 

JANE  CLEGG.     You  know,  Henry  I  ... 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Don't  talk  to  me.  I  don't 
want  to  hear  what  you've  got  to  say. 

He  begins  to  stride  up  and  down  the  room, 
puffing  quickly  at  his  pipe.    JANE  sits  still, 

MRS  CLEGG  WCCpS. 

MRS  CLEGG.  It's  no  pleasure  to  me  to  sit  'ere 
an'  'ear  all  this. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Oh,  shut  your  silly  mouth.  I've 
enough  on  my  mind  without  you  adding  to  it. 

MRS  CLEGG.  That's  not  the  way  to  speak  to 
your  mother,  'Enry. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [snapping  at  her.]  Isn't  it  ? 
Well,  it's  the  only  way  I'm  going  to  speak  to 
her,  see  !  Nice  thing  when  a  man's  chances  in 
life  are  spoiled  by  his  wife. 

MRS  CLEGG.    I'd  let  you  'ave  the  money  soon 

enough  if  it  was  mine.     You  know  I  would, 

'Enry.     [She  becomes  inaudible  through  weeping.] 

HENRY,  tiring  of  walking  up  and  down  the 

room,  returns  to  his  seat  in  front  of  the  fire, 

and   sits   down   moodily.    JANE    continues 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  23 

sewing.  There  is  quiet  for  a  moment,  except 
for  MRS  CLEGG'S  weeping. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Perhaps  you'd  better  go  to  bed, 
mother.  You're  tired. 

MRS  CLEGG.  I  don't  want  to  go  to  bed.  I'm 
not  tired.  I'm  'urt,  that's  wot  I  am.  'Urt. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  should  think  so  too.  So'd 
anybody  be.  Seven  hundred  pounds  she  has 
eating  its  head  off  in  a  bank,  and  won't  lend  me 
two  hundred  of  it.  Lend  it,  mind  you.  I  don't 
want  her  to  give  it  to  me,  though  I  don't  see  why 
she  shouldn't. 

MRS  CLEGG.  [tearfully.]  It  says  in  the  Bible 
wot's  'ers  is  yours  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  [getting  up  and  moving  towards 
the  door.]  Come,  mother,  it's  time  you  went  to 
bed.  You've  worn  yourself  out  to-day. 

MRS  CLEGG.  I'm  not  goin'  to  bed  yet.  I've  a 
right  to  sit  up  with  my  own  son,  'aven't  I  ? 
I'm  not  goin'  to  be  ordered  about. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I'm  not  ordering  you  about. 
I'm  going  to  bed  myself.  It's  no  good  sitting 
here  talking  like  this.  Henry  wants  me  to  give 
him  money  which  I  want  to  keep  for  Johnnie 
and  Jenny.  He  doesn't  tell  me  what  he  wants 
it  for.  He  expects  me  to  hand  it  over  to  him 
without  any  questions  !  .  .  . 


24  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  can't  tell  you  what  it  is  yet. 
I  promised  the  chap  !  .  .  . 

MRS  CLEGG.  You  wouldn't  'ave  'im  break  'is 
word,  would  you  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  It  wouldn't  be  the  first  time  he 
broke  his  word. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [pettishly.]  There !  There 
she  goes  again  !  Haven't  I  apologised  for  that, 
and  said  I  was  sorry  ?  Haven't  I  ?  And  swore 
I'd  never  do  it  again  ?  Can't  you  let  bygones 
be  bygones  ?  Unforgiving  spirit,  you  have. 

MRS  CLEGG.  I  didden  think  you'd  go  an'  rake 
things  up  like  that,  Jane.  'E  said  'e  was  sorry, 
didden  'e  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  Well,  it  doesn't  matter  very 
much  about  that.  I  don't  care  now.  You  shall 
not  have  a  farthing  until  I  know  what  you  want 
it  for,  and  only  then  if  I  think  it's  worth  while. 
Aren't  you  coming,  mother  ? 

MRS  CLEGG.     [fractiousty .]     In  a  minute,  Jane. 

JANE  CLEGG.     I'm  going  now.     Good-night. 

MRS  CLEGG.  [getting  up  from  her  seat  labori- 
ously.] All  right,  I'll  come  too. 

JANE  is  standing  in  the  doorway.  HENRY 
CLEGG  is  seated  before  the  fire.  MRS  CLEGG 
moves  towards  her  daughter-in-law.  There 
is  a  knock  at  the  door. 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  25 

'Ooever  can  that  be  at  this  time  of  night  ? 

JANE  goes  to  the  door  and  opens  it.     MR 
MUNCE  appears.    He  asks  if  HENRY  is  at 
home,  and  is  informed  that  he  is. 
HENRY  CLEGG.     [hastily.]    Hilloa,   Munce,  is 
that  you  ? 

MUNCE.     [entering  the  hall.]    Yes,  ole  man.     I 
want  to  see  you  partickler. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Come  on  in,  will  you. 

MUNCE,  a  weedy  person  of  the  race-course 
type,   ENTERS   the  room.    JANE,    who  has 
closed  the  street-door,  follows  him.    Introduc- 
ing JANE  to  MUNCE. 
My  wife. 

JANE  CLEGG.     How  do  you  do. 
MUNCE.     Pleased  to  meet  you. 
HENRY  CLEGG.     My  mother. 
MRS  CLEGG.     Glad  to  'ave  the  pleasure. 
MUNCE.     Same  'ere.     I'm  sorry  to  come  in  so 
late,  but  I  wanted  to  discuss  a  bit  of  business 
with  your  'usband,  Mrs  Clegg.     Very  important. 
JANE  CLEGG.     Oh,  yes.    You'd  like  to  be  left 
alone  with  Henry  ? 

MUNCE.     [very  affably.]     If  you  don't  mind. 
JANE  CLEGG.     No,  not  at  all.     I  was  just  going 
to  bed. 

MUNCE.    Ah,  I  know.     Early  to  bed  and  early 


26  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

to  rise,  makes  a  man  'ealthy,  wealthy,  an'  wise. 
Quite  right,  Mrs  Clegg.     'Ear,  'ear. 

JANE  CLEGG.     Good-night,  Mr  Munce. 

MUNCE.  Good-night,  Mrs  Clegg.  Pleased  to 
'ave  the  pleasure  of  your  acquaintance,  I'm  sure. 
[to  MRS  CLEGG.]  Good-night,  ma'am,  Glad  to 
'ave  met  you. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Good-night,  sir.  Good-night, 
'Enry. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Good-night,  mother.  [He 
kisses  her  and  she  goes  out.]  I  shan't  be  long, 
Jane. 

JANE  goes  out. 

MUNCE.     Well,  ole  chap,  'ow  goes  it  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.      Rotten  ! 

MUNCE.  Sorry  to  'ear  that.  Bidden  expec' 
to  see  me  roun'  'ere  to-night,  eih  ?  I  bin  lookin' 
for  you  bes'  part  the  dy  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.     I've  been  busy,  old  chap  !  .  .  . 

MUNCE.  Yes,  I  know  all  about  that.  Thought 
I'd  catch  you  about  now.  You  know  wot  I 
come  about,  don't  you  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [desperately.]  I'm  sorry, 
Munce,  I  can't  let  you  have  it  just  yet. 

MUNCE.  Wot  you  mean  you  can't  let  me  'ave 
it  ?  You  gotta  let  me  'ave  it,  see  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Don't  speak  so  loudly,   old 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  27 

chap.  You  see  I've  had  rotten  luck  lately. 
Haven't  pulled  off  a  single  winner.  Not  one. 

MUNCE.     That's  not  my  fault,  is  it  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  No,  of  course  not,  only  it 
means  I  can't  pay  up  just  now. 

MUNCE.  Well,  that's  a  nice  thing  I  must  say. 
'Ow  do  you  think  I'm  going  to  live,  eih  ?  I  can't 
afford  to  lie  out  of  my  money  like  that.  I've 
got  bills  of  my  own  to  meet. 

HENEY  CLEGG.  I  know,  old  chap.  Of  course, 
I'm  very  sorry. 

MUNCE.  Sorry  !  What's  the  good  of  bein' 
sorry.  That  don't  'elp  matters.  Do  you  know 
'ow  much  you  owe  me,  eih  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  You  haven't  given  me  much 
chance  to  forget  it,  have  you  ? 

MUNCE.  Twenty-five  pounds.  That's  what 
it  is,  and  then  you  'ave  the  cheek  to  tell  me 
you  can't  pay.  That's  cool,  that  is.  What've 
you  done  with  all  that  money  your  wife  'ad 
left  to  'er. 

HENRY  CLEGG.      Nothing. 

MUNCE.     Well,  then,  why  can't  you  pay  up  ? 
Look  'ere,  Clegg,  I'm  not  jokin'.     I'm  in  a  mess. 
Straight !     I  must  'ave  the  money  this  week. 
Absolute  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.     What's  the  good  of  talking 


28  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

like  that !     If  I  can't  let  you  have  it,  I  can't, 
can  I? 

MUNCE.  But  you  can.  You've  jus'  told  me 
you  still  got  your  wife's  money. 

HENRY  CLEGG.      Oh,  I  knOW  !    .    .   . 

MUNCE.    Look  'ere,  what  you  done  with  it,  eih  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  haven't  done  anything  with 
it. 

MUNCE.  You  know  you're  not  actin'  straight, 
you  aren't.  I  saw  you  the  other  day,  you  know. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Oh  !     Where  ? 

MUNCE.  Yes,  an'  you  'ad  a  nice  bit  o'  skirt 
with  you,  too. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     I  say,  shut  up,  you  fool. 

MUNCE.  Oh,  it's  all  right.  I  know  all  about 
it.  I  never  give  a  pal  away.  No  fear. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [airily.]  Oh,  there's  nothing 
to  give  away.  I  only  met  her  by  accident. 

MUNCE.  Yes,  I  do  not  think  ?  Oh,  ho,  ho, 
ho  !  Excuse  me  laughin',  ole  chap,  won't  you  ? 
Accident !  Oh,  ho,  ho,  ho !  ... 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  say,  don't  make  so  much 
noise.  They  went  upstairs  to  sleep,  you  know. 

MUNCE.  Sorry,  ole  man,  but  look  'ere  you 
know,  puttin'  all  jokes  aside,  when  can  you  let 
me  'ave  the  money  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.     I  don't  know  1 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  29 

MUNCE.  Don't  know !  But  you  oughta 
know.  What  am  I  goin'  to  do,  eih  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Perhaps  it'll  be  all  right  next 
week. 

MUNCE.  Yes,  an'  per'aps  not.  I  know. 
What  you  done  with  your  ole  woman's  money  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  tell  you  I  haven't  done  any- 
thing with  it ! 

MUNCE.  Don't  you  tell  me.  I  know.  You  bin 
spendin'  it  on  that  bit  of  skirt  I  saw  you  with 
this  afternoon,  that's  what  you  bin  doin',  'stead 
o'  payin'  your  debts. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [anxiously.]  Don't  shout,  old 
chap. 

MUNCE.  It's  enough  to  make  a  chap  shout 
ain't  it  ? — Goin'  an'  bluein'  all  your  money 
on  a  tart,  an'  you  owes  me  twenty-five  poun's. 
Twenty-five  poun's.  An'  'ere's  me  don't  know 
where  to  turn  for  money. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  tell  you  I  haven't  spent  it 
on  her.  Straight,  I  haven't.  Look  here,  I  may 
as  well  be  honest  with  you.  The  girl  you  saw 
me  with  this  afternoon,  she's  a  friend  of  mine, 
see  ! 

MUNCE.  Yes,  I  thought  so.  Fine  lookin'  bit 
o'  goods,  too  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.     [proudly.]     Not  bad,  is  she  ? 


30  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

MUNCE.  I  s'pose  your  missus  don't  know 
about  'er,  e$i  ?  Ho,  ho,  ho,  ho  1 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Don't  laugh  so  loud,  old  chap. 
My  wife  and  me  don't  get  on  very  well.  You 
know  1 

MUNCE.  [sympathetically.]  I  know,  old  chap. 
Funny,  ain't  it,  'ow  the  one  you're  married  to 
ain't  'all  so  nice  as  the  one  you  keep. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  And  you  see,  well,  things 
haven't  been  going  right  with  me  lately.  Of 
course,  Kitty,  that's  her  name,  not  my  wife, 
the  other  one,  she's  always  hard  up  !  ... 

MUNCE.  Just  what  I  said,  didden  I  ?  Spendin' 
all  your  blinkin'  money  on  a  tart  'stead  o'  payin' 
your  debts  of  honour.  Debts  of  honour,  mind 
you  !  That's  wot  I  call  doin'  the  dirty  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I'm  in  a  rare  old  mess,  that's 
wot  I  am.  Kitty's  bin  to  the  doctor  this 
mornin'  !  She's  not  sure  !  .  .  . 

MUNCE.  [after  a  prolonged  whistle.]  Oh,  ho  ! 
So's  that's  'ow  the  land  lays,  is  it  ?  So  'elp 
me  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  don't  know  what  the  devil 
to  do.  There's  you  and  Kitty  .  .  .  she'll  want 
a  bit  of  money  to  keep  her  mouth  shut.  If  I 
could  only  raise  a  bit,  I'd  take  her  off  to  Canada 
or  somewhere.  I'm  damned  fond  of  her,  that's 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  31 

what  I  am.  I  can't  stick  my  wife.  She's  hard, 
Munce,  hard  as  hell. 

MUNCE.  I  'ope  you  won't  do  nothink  rash, 
not  afore  you've  paid  me  my  whack. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  haven't  got  the  money  to 
be  rash.  I  wish  I  had. 

MUNCE.  Well,  I  dunno.  Seems  t'  me  I  shall 
lose  what  you  owe  me.  I  shall  'ave  to  do  some- 
think  Absolute !  [He  gets  up,  twirls  round  on 
his  foot,  and  then  sits  down  again.]  What  I  can't 
make  out  is,  what  you  done  with  your  wife's 
money. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [angrily.]  I  tell  you  I  haven't 
done  anything  with  it. 

MUNCE.     Well,  why  can't  you  pay  me  then  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  haven't  had  it.  She's  got 
it! 

MUNCE.     Well,  tell  her  to  give  it  to  you. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  She  won't  let  me  have  it,  not 
a  blasted  farthing  of  it ! 

MUNCE.  What !  [He  gapes  at  CLEGG  in  aston- 
ishment, and  then  goes  off  into  helpless  roars 
of  laughter.]  Oh,  you  bloomin'  fool !  Ho,  ho, 
ho,  ho  !  Excuse  me  laughin',  won't  you  ?  Oh, 
ho,  ho,  ho  !  Won't  let  you  'ave  it  ?  So  'elp  me  ! 
'Ere  I  'Ere,  I  say,  are  you  'er  'usband,  or  'er 
little  blue-eyed  lad,  eih  ?  Oh,  ho  ho,  ho  ! 


32  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

HENRY  CLEGG.       Shut  Up,  yOU  fool  ! 

MUNCE.  'Ere,  not  so  much  o'  that,  if  you 
please.  A  man  what  owes  what  you  owe  me, 
an'  runs  a  tart !  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [piteousty .]  Do  keep  quiet, 
old  chap.  I  didn't  mean  to  cut  up  rough. 

MUNCE.     I  should  think  not,  indeed. 

He  lies  back  in  his  chair,  looking  a  little 
sulky.  Gradually  however,  his  features 
relax  and  he  gives  way  to  his  sense  of  the 
ridiculousness  of  CLEGG'S  position. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  They'll  hear  you,  if  you  don't 
stop  it. 

MUNCE.  You're  a  nice  one,  I  must  say. 
Fancy,  a  man  lettin'  a  woman  treat  'im  like  that. 
Be  a  man,  old  chap  ;  be  a  man  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  That's  all  very  fine,  but  you're 
not  married  to  her. 

MUNCE.  No,  but  I'd  bloomin  soon  make  'er 
change  'er  toon  if  I  was. 

HENRY  CLEGG.    Yes,  you'd  do  a  lot. 

MUNCE.  The  idea  !  Du  meana  say  she  ain't 
let  you  'ave  some  of  it  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.      Not  a  SOU. 

MUNCE.  Gawblimey !  Seven  'undred  quid, 
wassen  it  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.      YeS. 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  83 

MUNCE.  You  know  you  didden  oughta  be 
a  man,  you  didden.  I  mean  t'  say,  ole  chap, 
it  ain't  right.  You  oughtn't  t'  let  'er  do  it, 
y'  know  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  How  the  hell  can  I  help  it. 
It's  her  money,  isn't  it  ?  Her  old  fool  of  an 
uncle  left  it  to  her. 

MUNCE.  But  you're  'er  'usband,  ole  man. 
You're  the  'ead  o'  the  fam'ly.  You  oughta  be 
lookin'  after  it  for  'er. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Well,  she  won't  let  me. 

MUNCE.  Let  you  !  Make  'er,  man.  Give  'er 
a  clout  aside  the  'ead  if  she  gives  you  any  lip. 
Don't  'ave  no  'umbug  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  That  wouldn't  do  any  good. 
I've  begged  her  to  let  me  have  a  couple  of 
hundred  of  it,  but  she  won't.  I  could  have 
cleared  you  off,  and  seen  Kitty  didn't  come  to 
any  harm  !  .  .  .  Oh,  doesn't  it  make  you  sick, 
Munce,  to  think  you've  got  to  go  with  your  cap 
in  your  hand  to  your  wife,  and  be  refused  ? 

MUNCE.     But  why  be  refused  ?     I  wouldn't. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  don't  know  what  to  do. 
[He  buries  his  head  in  his  hands  for  a  while,  and 
then  sits  up  again  in  his  chair.]  You  see,  old 
chap,  I  can't  pay  at  present,  so  it's  no  good 
keeping  you  up  any  longer. 


84  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

MUNCE.  That's  all  very  fine,  Clegg,  but  it 
don't  'elp  me  out  of  my  difficulty,  do  it  ?  I'm 
in  a  nole,  an'  you're  the  one  that'll  'ave  to  get 
me  out  of  it.  [Angrily.]  You  don't  think  I'm 
goin'  to  be  bust  up  when  you  owe  me  money 
enough  to  clear  me,  an'  your  wife's  got  seven 
'undred  in  the  bank,  do  you  ?  You  got  to  get 
it,  my  boy,  that's  what  you  got  to  do,  an'  jolly 
slippy  too. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     [weakly.]    How  can  I  get  it  ? 

MUNCE  .  I  dunno,  b«t  you  got  to  get  it  some'ow. 
I  must  'ave  it  by  nex'  Thursday,  that's  all. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [shrugging  his  shoulders.]  You 
might  as  well  say  you  want  it  in  five  minutes. 

MUNCE.  No  good  talkin'  like  that.  You  got 
to  get  it,  or  there'll  be  trouble.  See  I  I  don't 
want  to  be  nasty,  you  know,  but  I  could  be 
nasty  if  I  wanted  to,  couldn't  I  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.      Eh  ? 

MUNCE.  Your  missus  would  be  interested  to 
'ear  about  Kitty  an'  the  interestin'  event,  eih, 
woulden  she  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  You  wouldn't  give  me  away, 
would  you  ?  I  told  you  in  confidence. 

MUNCE.  An'  'ow  about  my  twenty-five  quid, 
eih  ?  Mebbe  she'd  like  to  'ear  about  that.  An' 
ole  'Arper,  Vd  be  delighted  to  'ear  as  'ow  'is 


ACT  i]  JANE  CLEGG  85 

traveller  owed  a  bookie  twenty-five  quid,  an' 
didden  know  'ow  to  pay  it,  eih  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  You  wouldn't  do  a  dirty  trick 
like  that,  would  you  ? 

MUNCE.  You  pay  me  me  money,  an'  I  won't. 
'Ang  it  all,  why  should  I  consider  you  w'en  you 
don't  care  a  dam  about  me  ?  I'll  be  ruined  if  I 
don't  get  the  money  this  week,  but  you  don't 
think  about  that.  It's  all  you  with  you. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Don't  be  hard,  old  chap.  I'll 
do  my  best,  I  promise  you,  I  will.  Only  give  me 
a  chance.  I'll  see  if  I  can  get  it  for  you  this 
week.  I  will,  straight.  I'll  make  her  give  it  to 
me,  somehow. 

MUNCE.  That's  right.  You  stuff  'er  up  with 
some  yarn  or  other,  an'  if  she  don't  give  it  to 
you  then,  make  'er  give  it  to  you.  [He  rises  and 
prepares  to  go.] 

HENRY  CLEGG.     I'll  do  my  best. 

MUNCE.  [holding  out  his  hand.]  You'll  'ave 
to.  I'm  about  desprit,  an'  that's  the  God's 
truth.  'Ere,  buck  up,  ole  chap.  You'll  be  all 
right.  She'll  pay  up  right  enough.  You  kiss 
'er  a  bit ;  that'll  put  'er  in  a  good  temper.  You 
on'y  got  to  treat  'em  reasonable,  an'  they're  all 
right.  Give  'er  a  bit  of  a  kiss  now  an'  again,  an' 
she'll  be  like  a  lamb.  You  bin  runnin'  too  much 


36  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  i 

after  that  Kitty,  y'  know,  an'  neglectin'  your 
missus,  an'  o'  course  that  gets  their  backs  up. 
You  got  to  yoomer  'em.  I  expec'  it'll  be  all 
right.  I  woulden  feel  so  perky  about  it,  if  I 
didden  know  she  'ad  that  money.  Straight,  I 
woulden !  Goo'-night,  ole  chap.  [He  shakes 
hands  with  CLEGG.] 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Good-night,  old  chap. 
MUNCE.     You  be  all  right,  you  see  ! 

They  go  into  the  hall  together,  CLEGG  opens 
the  door,  and  MUNCE  passes  out. 
Goo'-night,    ole   chap.     Remember   me   to   the 
missus  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Good-night ! 

He  shuts  the  street-door  and  returns  to  the 
sitting-room.  He  stands  in  front  of  the  fire 
for  a  few  moments  in  an  undecided  manner. 
He  puts  his  hand  in  his  pocket  and  takes  out 
the  cheque  from  Armstrong  <&  Brown.  He 
•fingers  it  for  a  while,  gazing  abstractedly  at 
the  fire.  Then  he  puts  the  cheque  back  into 
his  pocket,  turns  down  the  lamps,  and  GOES 
our  of  the  room,  shutting  the  door  behind 
him. 


ACT  II 

It  is  two  days  later,  and  JANE  CLEGG  is  seated  alone 
in  front  of  the  fire.     The  table  is  set  for  the 
evening  meal.     A  loud  continuous  knocking 
is  heard  on  the  street  door.    She  goes  to  the 
door  and  opens  it.    JENNY,  who  has  been 
lying  against  the  door,  stumbles  in  as  it  is 
opened,  and  collides  with  her  mother. 
JANE  CLEGG.    My  darling,  what  a  noise  to 
make. 

JENNY.  I  wanted  to  be  in  first,  mother.  I 
couldn't  wait  for  grannie  and  Johnnie.  They're 
just  coming.  [She  goes  into  the  street  and  calls 
out.]  Come  on,  grannie  !  You  are  a  long  time. 
JANE  CLEGG.  [returning  to  the  room.]  It  was 
naughty  of  you  to  run  away  from  them  like 
that,  Jenny. 

MES   CLEGG   and  JOHNNIE   appear  in  the 
doorway. 

MRS  CLEGG.     [out  of  breath.]    Oh,  you  young 
terror,  you  !     Out  o'  breath,  I  am  ! 
JENNY.     I  was  first,  wasn't  I,  grannie  ? 

87 


88  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

MRS  CLEGG.     You  was,  my  chickabiddy. 
They  all  come  into  the  sitting-room. 

JENNY.  I  was  the  first,  mother.  I  betted 
Johnnie  I  would. 

JOHNNIE,  [removing  his  coat.}  Bet,  Jenny, 
not  betted. 

JENNY.     It's  all  the  same. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Come  along,  now,  and  take  off 
your  things,  there's  a  dear.  You  can  take  off 
my  boots  for  me  [in  a  sort  of  whisper]  and  p'raps 
I'll  give  you  a  penny. 

JENNY.  Oh,  thank  you,  grannie.  [She  hugs 
the  old  lady,  who  bends  down  and  kisses  her.] 

JANE  CLEGG.  Run  along,  dear,  and  you,  too, 
Johnnie.  Supper'll  be  ready  very  soon. 

JOHNNIE.  Has  daddy  come  home  yet, 
mother  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  No,  dear,  not  yet,  but  perhaps 
he'll  come  in  in  a  minute  or  two.  Now,  run 
along. 

MRS  CLEGG  and  JOHNNIE  go  out  and  are  seen 
climbing  the  stairs. 

JENNY.     Can  I  sit  next  to  daddy,  mother  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.     Yes,  dear,  if  he  comes. 

JENNY.  Why  doesn't  he  come  ?  He's 
always  late. 

JANE  CLEGG.    Daddy  has  a  lot  to  do,  dear. 


ACT  n]  JANE  CLEGG  39 

[She  sits  down,  and  the  child  comes  to  her  and  rubs 
her  face  against  her.] 

JENNY.     I  like  when  daddy's  here. 

JANE  CLEGG.     Do  you,  darling  ? 

JENNY.     Yes,  and  so  does  grannie. 

JANE  CLEGG.     That's  right,  dear. 

JENNY.  Johnnie  likes  it  too,  but  he  likes  being 
with  you  best. 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  like  being  with  me,  too, 
don't  you,  Jenny  ? 

JENNY,  [emphatically.]  Of  course,  mother, 
dear.  [She  puts  her  arms  about  her  mother's  neck, 
and  kisses  her.]  I  do  love  you,  mother. 

JANE  CLEGG.     My  dear  ! 

JOHNNIE,     [from  above.]     Jenny ! 

JENNY.    Ye-es ! 

JOHNNIE.  Come  on !  Grannie's  waiting. 
[He  is  seen  looking  over  the  banisters.]  She  says 
she  gave  you  a  penny  to  take  off  her  boots,  and 
you  haven't  done  it. 

JENNY.     Oh,  you  do  it,  Johnnie  ! 

JOHNNIE.     Shan't ! 

JENNY.     Beast,  beast ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  Jenny,  dear,  you  mustn't  talk  like 
that.  [She  kisses  JENNY,  and  pats  her  on  the  head.] 
Now,  run  along,  dear,  and  help  your  grannie,  and 
when  you're  ready  we'll  have  supper. 


40  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

JOHNNIE.     Come  on,  Jenny. 
JENNY.     Oh,  you  ! 

She  runs  to  the  foot  of  the  stairs,  and  pursues 
her  brother.  They  are  heard  scuffling  and 
laughing  on  the  stairs.  MRS  CLEGG  is  heard 
saying,  "  Oh,  you  naughty  little  girl !  "  and 
"  Do  give  over,  do  !  " 

JANE  CLEGG.     [calling  out  to  them.]    Johnnie  ! 
JOHNNIE.     Yes,  mother  ! 
JANE  CLEGG.     I  want  you. 
JOHNNIE.    All    right,    mother.     No,    Jenny, 
don't !     Oh  !     [He  shouts  with  laughter.] 
JANE  CLEGG.     Come  along,  dear  ! 
JOHNNIE,     [running  quickly  down  the  stairs.] 
Yes,  mother. 

He  enters  the  room,  shutting  the  door  behind 
him. 
Yes,  mother ! 

JANE  CLEGG.     Come  and  sit  here.     [He  sits 
down  in  front  of  the  fire  at  her  feet.] 
JOHNNIE.     Can  I  read  again  to-night,  mother  ? 
JANE  CLEGG.     It'll  soon  be  supper-time. 
JOHNNIE.     Just  a  little  while,  please. 

The  door  opens  and  MRS  CLEGG  and  JENNY 
return. 

Jenny,  you  would  like  me  to  read  again,  wouldn't 
you  ? 


ACT  n]  JANE  CLEGG  41 

MRS  CLEGG  seats  herself  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  fire  to  that  at  which  JANE  CLEGG  is  seated. 

JENNY,  [impetuously.]  Oh,  yes,  Johnnie. 
[She  throws  herself  down  beside  him.] 

JOHNNIE.     Please,  mother  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  All  right,  then.  You  can  read 
for  a  little  while.  I  expect  your  father  will  be 
in  presently,  and  then  you  will  have  to  put  the 
book  away  ! 

JOHNNIE,  [rising  and  going  towards  the  book- 
shelf.] Oh,  thank  you,  mother  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.     'E's  late  again  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  [glancing  at  the  clock.]  Oh,  no. 
He  seldom  comes  in  before  this  time. 

MRS  CLEGG.     Well,  of  course,  if  you  call  this 
early  !   .   .   .   [to  JENNY.]     'Ere,  come  an'  sit  on 
my  knee.     'Ave  you  got  your  book,  Johnnie  ? 
JENNY  climbs  on  to  her  grannies  knee. 

JOHNNIE,  [returning  to  his  seat  on  the  floor.] 
Yes,  grannie  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.  Weil,  now  you  can  read  to  us, 
can't  you  ?  We'll  keep  as  quiet  as  quiet,  won't 
we,  Jenny,  eh  ?  [She  hugs  the  child  to  her.] 

JENNY.  Yes,  grannie.  What  is  the  book, 
Johnnie  ? 

JOHNNIE.  "The  History  of  the  Steam 
Engine." 


42  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

JENNY,  [petulantly.]  Oh,  no,  I  don't  want 
to  hear  that.  I  want  to  hear  a  story. 

JOHNNIE.     But  it's  awfully  interesting,  Jenny. 

JENNY.  No,  I  don't  like  it.  [She  climbs  off 
her  grannie's  knee  and  goes  to  her  mother,  coax- 
ingly]  Please,  mother,  can't  I  have  a  story  read 
to  me  ? 

JOHNNIE.  But,  mother,  I  want  to  read  about 
steam  engines  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.  You  can't  'ave  everythink.  You 
ought  to  be  a  little  gentleman  and  read  what 
the  lady  wants  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  What  kind  of  a  story  do  you 
want,  dear  ? 

JENNY.  You  know,  mother.  A  real  story, 
not  about  steam  engines. 

JOHNNIE.  But  that's  real,  Jenny.  Steam 
engines  is  real  ! 

JENNY.  Are,  silly,  are  \  E-h-h-h  1  Caught 
you  that  time,  clever  ! 

A  knock  on  the  street  door  is  heard. 

JANE  CLEGG.  There's  your  father.  Johnnie, 
go  and  open  the  door. 

JENNY,  [quickly,  running  to  the  door.]  No, 
let  me,  mother.  I'll  open  it. 

JANE  CLEGG.    All  right.     Go  along. 

JENNY  runs  down  the  passage  leading  to  the 


ACT  nj  JANE  CLEGG  43 

door,  and  after  fumbling  with  the  handle, 

opens  the  door. 

JENNY.     Oh,  it  isn't  daddy  ! 
MR  MORRISON.     Is  Mr  Clegg  in  ? 

JENNY.      No. 

JANE  CLEGG.     Who  is  it,  dear  ? 

JENNY.     It's  a  gentleman,  mother  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  All  right.  [She  rises  and  goes 
to  the  door.] 

MR  MORRISON.     Good-evening,  Mrs  Clegg  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  Good-evening !  Oh,  it's  you, 
Mr  Morrison  !  Come  in,  will  you.  We're  just 
going  to  have  supper. 

She  returns  to  the  room,  followed  by  MORRISON. 
JENNY  shuts  the  street-door,  and  also  returns 
to  the  room,  closing  the  door  leading  to  the 
passage  after  her. 

This   is   my   mother-in-law   [introducing   them.] 
Mr  Morrison. 

MR  MORRISON.  Pleased  to  meet  you  !  Hope 
you're  quite  well. 

MRS  CLEGG.  I'm  very  well,  thanks.  I  hope 
you  are  too. 

MR  MORRISON.     Yes,  thanks. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Johnnie,  bring  a  chair  for  Mr 
Morrison  ! 

JOHNNIE.     Yes,  mother. 


44  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

MR  MORRISON.     Oh,  please  don't  trouble. 
JOHNNIE  brings  a  chair  forward. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Won't  you  take  off  your  coat  ? 
Let  me  take  your  hat ! 

MR  MORRISON.     Oh,  no,  thanks. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Perhaps  you'll  have  some  supper 
with  us. 

MR  MORRISON.  No,  I  won't  have  anything, 
thanks.  Is  Clegg  at  home  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.     No,  he  hasn't  come  in  yet. 

MR  MORRISON.  Oh !  I  wanted  to  see  him 
particularly. 

JANE  CLEGG.  He  ought  to  be  here  by  now. 
What  time  did  he  leave  the  office  ? 

MR  MORRISON.     He  hasn't  been  to-day. 

JANE  CLEGG.     Hasn't  been  !   .   .   . 

MRS  CLEGG.  Why  'e  left  'smornin'  same  time's 
usual. 

JANE  CLEGG.     You're  sure  he  hasn't  been. 

MR  MORRISON.  I've  only  just  left,  and  he 
hadn't  arrived  then.  The  guv'nor  sent  me  round 
to  make  enquiries  about  him. 

JANE  CLEGG.     But  how  odd  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.  I  do  'ope  nothhik  'asn't  'appened 
to  'im. 

MR  MORRISON,  {endeavouring  to  be  consolatory.'] 
Oh,  I  don't  suppose  so.  He's  probably  all  right. 


ACT  n]  JANE  CLEGG  45 

JANE  CLEGG.  He  said  he'd  be  at  the  office  the 
whole  of  the  morning  !  ...  [to  the  children.] 
You'd  better  have  your  supper,  now,  and  go  to 
bed. 

JENNY.  Oh,  please,  mother,  let  me  stay  up  a 
little  longer. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Come  along.  [She  goes  to  the 
table  and  prepares  the  children's  food.] 

JOHNNIE.  Can't  I  read  some  of  the  "  History 
of  the  Steam  Engine,"  mother  ? 

JENNY.     Yes,  please,  mother. 

JANE  CLEGG.  No,  you  must  have  your  supper. 
Sit  down,  both  of  you.  [The  children  begin  their 
meal.] 

MRS  CLEGG.  Ah,  you're  very  anxious  to  hear 
about  the  steam  engine,  now,  my  lady,  but  you 
wasn't  so  anxious  a  minute  or  two  ago. 

JENNY,     [her  mouth  full.]     Oh,  I  was,  grannie  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.  Now,  there's  a  wicked  story  for 
you.  [to  MR  MORRISON.]  What  do  you  think  of  a 
little  girl  that  doesn't  tell  the  truth,  Mr  Morrison  ? 

MR  MORRISON,  [with  heavy  jocularity.]  Oh, 
but  nice  little  girls  don't  tell  fibs,  do  they  ? 

JENNY.  I  didn't  tell  fibs,  and  I  only 
wanted  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  [sharply.]  Eat  your  supper, 
Jenny,  quickly. 


46  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

JENNY,     [reproachfully.]    Mother ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  [to  MR  MORRISON.]  Something 
must  have  happened  to  him.  Have  you  made 
any  enquiries  ?  He  may  have  been  run  over. 

MR  MORRISON.  No,  I  shouldn't  think  that.  I 
expect  he's  all  right. 

JANE  CLEGG.  But  why  should  you  think  that  ? 
You  don't  know. 

MR  MORRISON.  No,  of  course,  I  don't  know, 
but  I  should  think  he's  probably  all  right. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I'll  go  and  enquire  at  the  police- 
station.  They  may  have  some  information  about 
him  there. 

MRS  CLEGG.  I'm  sure  I  'ope  nothink  'asn't 
'appened  to  'im.  I  do  'ate  accidents. 

MR  MORRISON.  I  don't  think  I  should  go  if  I 
were  you,  Mrs  Clegg. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Why  ?  [She  looks  at  him  for  a 
moment  as  if  she  understands  what  is  in  his 
mind.]  Mr  Morrison,  you  !  .  .  .  [She  turns  to 
the  children.]  Have  you  finished  your  supper 

yet? 

JOHNNIE.     Oh,  no,  mother,  not  nearly. 
JANE  CLEGG.     Well,  you  must  go  to  bed  now. 
JENNY.     Oh,  mother ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  Yes,  run  along !  You  can 
finish  your  supper  in  bed. 


ACT  n]  JANE  CLEGG  47 

JOHNNIE.     Can't  we  have  it  here  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  No,  Mr  Morrison  has  some- 
thing to  say  to  us,  so  you  must  run  along. 
You  can  pretend  you're  having  a  picnic  or 
something. 

JENNY.     Oh,  yes,  Johnnie,  let's  ! 

JOHNNIE.  Can  I  read  the  "  History  of  the 
Steam  Engine  "  for  a  little  while  in  bed  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  Yes,  but  only  for  a  little  while. 
Promise. 

JOHNNIE.     I  promise,  mother. 

JANE  CLEGG.  [bending  down  and  kissing  him.] 
That's  a  good  boy.  Run  along  now,  and  take 
your  supper  with  you.  Say  good-night  to 
grannie  and  Mr  Morrison.  Come  along,  Jenny. 

JOHNNIE.     Good-night,  Mr  Morrison. 

MR  MORRISON,  [in  a  manner  of  a  man  unaccus- 
tomed to  children].  Oh  !  Ah  !  Good-night ! 

JOHNNIE,  [going  to  his  grandmother.]  Good- 
night, grannie. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Good-night,  my  dear !  [She 
kisses  him.] 

He  collects  his  book  and  his  supper. 

JENNY,  [holding  up  her  face  to  MR  MORRISON 
to  be  kissed.]  Good-night,  Mr  Morrison. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Oh,  oh,  oh,  There's  a  forward 
young  woman  for  you. 


48  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

MR  MORRISON,  [kissing  JENNY  in  some  em- 
barrassment.] Good-night,  Jenny. 

MRS  CLEGG.  You're  a  one,  you  are.  Settin' 
your  cap  at  the  gentleman  like  that. 

JENNY.  What's  setting  your  cap,  grannie  ? 
[She  climbs  on  to  MRS  CLEGG'S  knee,  and  hugs  her 
tightly.] 

MRS  CLEGG.  You  don't  need  to  be  told,  you 
young  rogue.  [Hugs  the  child.]  Good-night,  my 
dear.  Um,  um,  um,  um  1  Good-night,  bless  you  ! 

JENNY.     Good-night,  dear  grannie. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Come  and  get  your  supper,  dear. 
Good-night,  Johnnie.  [She  bends  down  and  kisses 
him.] 

JOHNNIE.  Good-night,  mother !  [He  goes 
into  the  passage.] 

JENNY,  [carrying  her  supper.]  Good-night, 
mother  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  Good-night,  my  darling.  [Kisses 
her  affectionately.] 

JENNY.     Good-night,  all ! 

MR  MORRISON.     Oh,  ah,  good-night ! 

MRS  CLEGG.     Good-night,  my  sweet'eart ! 

JENNY.     Come  to  bed  soon,  grannie. 

MRS  CLEGG.     All  right,  my  dearie. 

JANE  CLEGG.     Run  along  now,  Jenny. 

JENNY.    All   right,   mother !     [She  goes  into 


ACT  n]  JANE  CLEGG  49 

the  passage,  and  then  returns  to  the  room.]  Oh, 
can  Johnnie  read  a  story  to  me  mother,  a  real 
story  !  .  .  . 

JOHNNIE,  [from  the  stairs.]  No,  I  want  to 
read  about  the  steam  engine. 

JENNY.     You  shut  up  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  Jenny,  Jenny  !  You  must  go 
to  bed.  Johnnie'll  read  his  book  to  you,  and  if 
you  don't  want  to  hear  it  you  can  go  to  sleep. 

JENNY.  Oh,  mother  !  [She  goes  slowly  to  the 
foot  of  the  stairs.]  'Night,  all ! 

JANE  CLEGG.     Good-night,  dear. 

JENNY,     [to  JOHNNIE.]    Beast,  beast ! 
She  runs  up  the  stairs  after  him. 

JANE  CLEGG.      NOW,  nOW  1 

There  is  a  scuffle,  and  then  a  shout  of  laughter. 
JANE  CLEGG  listens  for  a  moment,  and  then 
shuts  the  door. 

MRS   CLEGG.     She's  a  caution  that   child  is. 
Just  like  'er  father  was  at  'er  age,  bless  'er. 
MR  MORRISON.     She  must  liven  up  the  house  ! 
MRS  CLEGG.     She  does  indeed. 
JANE  CLEGG.     Mr  Morrison,  you  know  some- 
thing about  my  husband  ! 

MR  MORRISON,     [startled.]    Oh,  no,  Mrs  Clegg  ; 
that  is  to  say,  I've  really  come  to  find  out  1  ... 
JANE  CLEGG.     What  is  it  ? 


50  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

MR  MORRISON.  Well,  the  truth  of  the  matter 
is,  I'm  afraid — mind  you,  I  don't  know  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.      Yes  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.     Is  there  anythink  wrong  ? 

MR  MORRISON.  I'm  afraid  Clegg  may  have 
made  a  mistake.  Of  course,  I  don't  know. 
That's  why  I  came  round,  just  to  find  out. 

MRS  CLEGG.     Mistake  !     Wot  mistake  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  What  kind  of  a  mistake,  Mr 
Morrison  ? 

MR  MORRISON.     Well,  you  see,  a  cheque  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.      Yes  ? 

MR  MORRISON.  Of  course,  it  may  be  a  mistake, 
as  I  say,  only  it's  odd. 

MRS  CLEGG.     I  dunno  wot  you're  talkin'  about. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Go  on,  Mr  Morrison,  explain  it 
all,  please. 

MR  MORRISON.  Well,  you  see  a  firm  that  owes 
us  some  money,  rather  a  big  amount,  sent  the 
cheque  in  after  a  lot  of  bother,  and  it  appears 
they  made  it  payable  to  Clegg  and  sent  it  to 
him  at  the  office  two  or  three  days  ago. 

JANE  CLEGG.      Yes. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Yes,  that's  right.  A  boy  brought 
the  letter  'ere.  I  saw  'Enry  openin'  the  letter 
meself.  It  was  a  cheque  all  right.  You  needn't 
be  alarmed,  Mr  Morrison.  'Enry'll  'ave  it  safe  1 


ACT  11]  JANE  CLEGG  51 

MR  MORRISON.  That's  just  the  point,  Mrs 
Clegg.  You  see  he  didn't  say  anything  about  it. 
I'm  cashier.  He  ought  to  have  told  me.  I  sent 
a  reminder  to  the  firm,  and  last  night  they 
telephoned  through  to  say  they'd  sent  it,  and 
explained  what  had  happened.  Of  course,  I 
thought  it  was  odd  Clegg  hadn't  said  any- 
thing, or  given  me  the  cheque,  only  I  thought 
he'd  forgotten  it,  and  I  meant  to  ask  him 
about  it  this  morning.  But  he  never  turned 
up. 

MRS  CLEGG.      Well  ? 

MR  MORRISON,  [very  embarrassed.]  Well ! 
[laughing  nervously.]  It's  funny,  isn't  it  ? 

MRS  CLEGG.  I  don't  see  the  joke  myself.  Of 
course,  'Enry's  forgot  about  it.  It'll  be  all 
right.  You  put  yourself  to  a  lot  of  trouble,  sir, 
for  nothink  wot  I  can  see  of  it. 

MR  MORRISON.     I'm  sure  I  hope  so. 

MRS  CLEGG.  'Ope  so  !  Of  course  you  'ave. 
'Ere,  Jane,  let's  'ave  supper.  I'm  starvin',  and 
I  expect  'Enry'll  be  late  again. 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  have  something,  mother. 
I'll  wait  for  Henry. 

MRS  CLEGG.  [Rising  and  going  to  the  table.] 
You  look  quite  upset.  Anyone  'ud  think  you 
believed  'Enry'd  took  the  money. 


52  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

JANE  CLEGG.     [wearily.]     I  don't  know  !  .  .  . 

MRS  CLEGG.  [angrily.]  Don't  know !  But 
you  ought  to  know.  'E's  your  'usban'.  If  the 
'ole  world  believed  'im  guilty,  you  oughtn't.  It 
isn't  nice  of  you.  Besides,  anyone  with  any 
sense  'ud  know  'Enry  wouldn't  do  such  a  thing. 
I  know  'e  was  always  one  for  goin'  on,  but  'e 
never  done  nothink  wrong,  not  really  wrong,  I 
mean,  like  stealing  money  or  anythink.  [She 
leans  over  to  JANE  and  pats  her  hands.]  There, 
there,  see  !  'E'll  explain  it  all  right. 

ME  MORRISON.       I  hope  SO. 

MRS  CLEGG.  You  seem  to  'ave  made  up  your 
mind  already  Mr  Morrison.  Jane,  why  don't  you 
say  somethink.  'Owever  you  can  sit  there  an' 
'ear  your  'usban's  good  name  took  away,  I  don't 
know  1 

JANE  CLEGG.     How  much  is  it,  Mr  Morrison  ? 

MR  MORRISON.  I  don't  know  quite.  There's 
this  cheque  for  one  hundred  and  forty  pounds, 
but  there  may  be  more. 

MRS  CLEGG.     'Ow  can  you  say  such  things. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Of  course,  Mr  Morrison,  if  what 
you  say  is  true,  the  money  will  be  repaid. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Of  course,  it  will.  I  dessay 
'Enry  didn't  mean  to  take  the  money,  that  is  if 
'e  did  take  it,  which  I  don't  believe,  not  really 


ACT  n]  JANE  CLEGG  53 

take  it,  I  mean,  but  if  'e  did,  if  mind  you,  of 
course  it'll  be  paid.  'E'd  be  the  first  to  say 
that  'imself.  'Enry  never  done  nothink  under- 
'and,  not  really  under'and. 

MR     MORRISON.       [to    JANE    CLEGG.]      You     SCC, 

Mrs  Clegg,  all  our  staff  is  insured  against  acci- 
dents of  this  sort,  and  the  difficulty  is  that  the 
policy  contains  a  clause  to  the  effect  that  the 
defaulter  must  be  prosecuted  and  convicted 
before  the  insurance  company  pays  up,  other- 
wise there's  no  proof  of  embezzlement. 

MRS  CLEGG.  I've  always  'card  them  insurance 
companies  was  tricky. 

MR  MORRISON.  Of  course,  if  the  money  is 
paid  back,  the  insurance  company  won't  want 
to  prosecute.  In  fact,  I  don't  suppose  the 
guv'nor'll  say  anything  about  it.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  he  doesn't  know  yet.  I'm  the  only  one 
that  knows. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Well,  that's  fortunate,  any'ow. 
Isn't  it,  Jane  ?  It's  lucky  it  'appened  just  now, 
if  it  'as  'appened.  Jane'll  be  able  to  pay  it  all 
back  as  easy  as  anythink.  You  see  'er  uncle 
died  a  little  while  back  an'  left  'er  seven  'undred 
poun's.  Jus'  convenient,  I  call  it. 

MR  MORRISON.    Very. 

JANE  CLEGG.     If  my  husband  has  defaulted, 


54  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

Mr  Morrison,  I  shall  let  you  have  the  money 
immediately. 

MR  MORRISON.  I'm  very  glad,  Mrs  Clegg. 
I'm  sorry  it  should  have  happened.  Clegg  and 
I  have  worked  together  a  good  many  years  now. 
I  shouldn't  like  to  think  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  suppose,  Mr  Morrison,  if  the 
money  is  repaid  instantly,  there  is  no  reason 
why  the  story  should  be  repeated  to  anyone 
else. 

MR  MORRISON.  Well,  it's  rather  hard  to  decide. 
The  guv'nor  ought  to  know.  It's  hardly  fair  to 
him.  Supposing  it  was  to  happen  again. 

MRS  CLEGG.  It  won't  'appen  again.  We  don' 
don't  know  that  it's  'appened  at  all.  We  on'y 
got  your  word  for  it,  an'  you  might  'ave  made  a 
mistake.  You  ain't  the  Lord  God  Almighty. 

MR  MORRISON.  [<w  his  dignity.]  I  know  that, 
Mrs  Clegg.  You're  not  treating  me  with  much 
consideration,  I  must  say.  There  was  no 
obligation  on  my  part  to  come  here  at  all  to- 
night. I  only  did  so  because  I'm  a  friend  of 
Clegg's.  If  I  hadn't  been,  I  should  have  gone 
straight  to  the  guv'nor  and  told  him  what's 
happened.  Seems  to  me  I'm  getting  very  little 
thanks  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.    Oh,  please,  Mr  Morrison,  don't 


ACT  n]  JANE  CLEGG  55 

say  that.     You  know  Mrs  Clegg  is  an  old  woman, 
and  Henry's  her  only  son  !   .   .   . 
MR  MORRISON.     Of  course,  I  make  allowances. 
MRS   CLEGG.     'E's   a   good   son,    too.     There 
isn't  a  cleverer  man  in  this  town.     I  dessay 
some  people's  jealous  of  him. 

The  noise  of  a  key  turning  in  a  lock  is  heard, 
and  then  the  street  door  is  opened  and  shut. 
JANE    CLEGG.     That   must   be   Henry,    now. 
[She  opens  the  door  of  the  sitting-room,  and  looks 
into  the  hall]     Is  that  you,  Henry  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [from  the  hall.]  Yes,  dear. 
I'm  sorry  I'm  late.  I've  been  frightfully  rushed 
at  the  office  to-day. 

He  appears  at  the  door  and  is  about  to  kiss 
her  when  he  observes  MORRISON.  He  starts 
violently,  then  recovers  himself  a  little  and 
smiles  feebly. 

Hilloa,    Morrison,    old    chap !     What    are    you 
doing  here  ! 

MR  MORRISON.  I've  just  been  explaining  my 
visit  to  Mrs  Clegg. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [nervously.]  Oh,  yes.  [He 
goes  to  the  table.]  Is  this  my  supper  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.      Yes. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [sitting  down.]  Will  you  join 
me,  Morrison  ? 


56  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

MR  MORRISON.  No,  thanks.  I've  had  my 
meal. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Have  a  glass  of  beer  ? 

MR  MORRISON.    No,  thanks. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  say,  what's  up  with  you  all  ? 
You  look  mighty  solemn. 

MRS  CLEGG.  'E  says  you  bin  stealin'  the  firm's 
money. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     [starting  up.]    What ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  Mr  Morrison  is  worried  about 
that  cheque  from  Armstrong  &  Brown.  He  says 
you  haven't  given  it  to  him  yet. 

MR  MORRISON.     Of  course,  it  may  be  a  mistake. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Oh,  that !  That's  all  right, 
old  chap,  that's  all  right. 

MRS  CLEGG.  I  tole  you  'e  could  explain  it 
when  'e  come  'ome.  Nasty  minds  some  people 
must  'ave. 

MR  MORRISON.  You've  had  the  cheque  three 
days  now,  and  I  ought  to  have  had  it  the  day 
you  received  it.  It  ought  not  to  have  been  sent 
to  you  at  all.  They  telephoned  this  morning 
about  it. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Clean  forgot  all  about  it. 

MR  MORRISON.     Funny  sort  of  thing  to  forget ! 

MRS  CLEGG.  Anyone  might  forget  a  thing. 
You  don't  remember  everythink,  do  you  ? 


ACT  n]  JANE  CLEGG  57 

MR  MORRISON.  I  don't  know  what  the  guv- 
nor'd  say  if  he  knew. 

JANE  CLEGG.  You'd  better  give  the  cheque 
to  Mr  Morrison  now,  Henry. 

HENRY  CLEGG.      Eh  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  said  you'd  forgotten  about 
it,  so  I  suppose  you  still  have  it. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Oh,  yes,  yes.  That'll  be  .all 
right,  Morrison.  I'll  clear  it  up  to-morrow.  I'm 
a  bit  tired  to-night. 

JANE  CLEGG.  It  doesn't  require  much  effort 
to  take  a  cheque  out  of  your  pocket  and  pass  it 
over  to  Mr  Morrison. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Oh,  all  right,  all  right.  [He 
begins  to  bluster.]  I  must  say  it's  a  nice  thing 
when  a  man  comes  home  fagged  to  find  his 
friend  and  his  wife  getting  up  a  tale  !  .  .  . 

MR  MORRISON,  [with  asperity.]  I  haven't  got 
up  any  tale.  You  haven't  accounted  for  a 
cheque  that  ought  to  have  been  given  to  me 
three  days  ago,  and  it's  my  duty  to  find  out  why 
you  haven't  accounted  for  it. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Besides,  the  whole  thing  can 
be  cleared  up  by  your  passing  the  cheque  over 
to  Mr  Morrison. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Jane,  you  'aven't  got  no  feelin's. 
'E's  tired,  isn't  'e  ?  [She  goes  to  CLEGG'S  side, 


58  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

and  puts  her  arms  round  his  neck.]  My  poor  lad, 
you're  worried  to  death  by  'em. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [roughly  pushing  her  away.] 
For  God's  sake  leave  me  alone.  As  if  I  hadn't 
got  enough  on  my  mind,  without  you  messing 
about. 

MRS  CLEGG.  [a  little  tearfully.]  Oh,  'Enry,  an' 
me  your  own  mother,  too. 

MR  MORRISON.  Why  didn't  you  come  in 
to-day  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  told  me  when  you  came  in 
that  you'd  been  busy  at  the  office. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Did  I  say  that  ?  Not  at  the 
office.  I  have  been  busy,  very  busy.  Fact  is, 
I  met  a  friend  of  mine  in  the  town  to-day  and 
he  put  me  on  to  a  good  bit  of  business.  I've 
been  running  all  over  the  place  after  it.  Haven't 
had  time  to  get  anything  to  eat. 

MRS  CLEGG.  [dolefully.]  Oh,  'Enry,  an'  you 
know  you  'ave  indigestion. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  think  I've  pulled  it  off  all 
right.  Fine  connection. 

MR  MORRISON.       Oh,  yCS. 

JANE  CLEGG.     Who  was  it  you  met  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  No  one  you  know,  [to 
MORRISON.]  Sure,  you  won't  have  something  to 
eat,  old  chap. 


ACT  n]  JANE  CLEGG  59 

MR  MORRISON.     Quite  sure,  thanks. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Well,  you  won't  mind  if  I  go 
on,  will  you  ?  I'm  as  hungry  as  a  trooper. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Jane,  look  after  'im  do.  Wot 
with  workin'  so  hard,  an'  bein'  upset,  I  wonder 
'e's  able  to  eat  at  all. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Don't  you  think  you'd  better 
let  Mr  Morrison  have  the  cheque,  Henry.  It's 
hardly  fair  to  keep  him  here  so  long.  He  prob- 
ably has  other  things  to  do. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  can't  let  him  have  it  to- 
night. I  left  my  bag  in  the  cloak-room  at  the 
station.  I  didn't  want  to  be  bothered  with  it 
when  I  went  after  this  chap  I've  just  been  telling 
you  about,  and  I  was  too  tired  to  go  and  get 
it  again  to-night.  I'll  fetch  it  with  me  in 
the  morning,  [airily.]  It's  all  right,  Morrison, 
there's  no  necessity  to  look  as  if  I'd  committed 
a  crime. 

JANE  CLEGG.  [with  cold  precision.]  You 
didn't  take  your  bag  with  you  this  morning. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Jane,  'ow  can  you  doubt  your 
own  'usban'  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  didn't  take  your  bag  this 
morning.  It's  still  upstairs. 

MR  MORRISON.  I  must  say  I  don't  like  the 
look  of  this. 


60  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

MRS  CLEGG.  Well,  p'raps  'e  thought  'e  took 
it.  If  the  bag's  upstairs,  the  cheque'll  be  there, 
too.  Run  up  an'  get  it,  Jane,  there's  a  dear,  an' 
then  we'll  be  at  peace  again. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Shall  I  go  and  get  it,  Henry, 
or  will  you  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Eh  ?  Oh !  [He  stops  short, 
and  glances  sharply  about  him.  There  is  silence 
for  a  few  moments.]  I  may  as  well  own  up.  I 
haven't  got  the  cheque. 

MRS  CLEGG.     Oh,  'Enry  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.      I've  cashed  it. 

There  is  silence  again  for  a  little  while. 

MR  MORRISON.  Of  course,  you  know,  this  is 
very  serious. 

JANE  CLEGG.  [quickly.]  Mr  Morrison,  you 
will  remember  your  promise  not  to  say  any- 
thing about  this  to  Mr  Harper.  The  money  will 
be  paid  to-morrow.  I'll  see  to  that. 

MR  MORRISON.  I  didn't  make  any  promise, 
Mrs  Clegg.  It's  my  duty  to  tell  Mr  Harper. 
This  may  not  be  the  only  sum  !  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.      It  IS. 

MR  MORRISON.  And  it  may  happen  again.  I 
must  tell  him,  Mrs  Clegg. 

MRS  CLEGG.  But  Vll  lose  'is  situation,  if  you 
do. 


ACT  u]  JANE  CLEGG  61 

MR  MORRISON.  I'm  sorry.  As  I  said,  we've 
worked  together  a  good  many  years,  but  I  must 
do  my  duty. 

MRS  CLEGG.  You  wouldn't  see  'im  disgraced, 
would  you  ?  Oh,  Mr  Morrison,  don't  go  an'  do 
it !  Think  of  'is  wife  an'  children.  An'  me,  too. 
[She  weeps  while  she  speaks.]  I've  lived  'ere  all 
me  life,  an'  no  one  'as  never  bin  able  to  say  a 
word  agin  me,  not  no  one.  I've  always  kept 
meself  respectable,  wotever's  'appened,  an'  now  ! 
[to  her  son.]  Oh,  'Enry,  tell  'im  it  ain't  true. 
I'm  a  nole  woman,  an'  I  couldn't  bear  to  die 
thinkin'  you  was  in  prison  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.      Prison  ? 

MRS  CLEGG.  'E  says  you'll  be  put  in  prison 
for  this. 

MR  MORRISON.  Not  if  the  money  is  re- 
paid. 

JANE  CLEGG.  It  will  be  repaid.  [She  goes  to 
MRS  CLEGG.]  It  will  be  all  right,  mother.  The 
money  will  be  paid.  Mr  Morrison,  must  you  tell 
Mr  Harper  ? 

MR  MORRISON.  I'm  afraid  so,  Mrs  Clegg.  I 
can't  help  it. 

MRS  CLEGG.  You  can  'elp  anythink  if  you 
want  to  ! 

MR  MORRISON.     I've  got  myself  to  think  of, 


62  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

and  if  the  guv'nor  found  out !  And  there's  the 
future.  It  might  happen  again. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Mr  Morrison,  will  you  agree  to 
this  ?  Henry  will  resign  his  post  with  Mr 
Harper,  and  we'll  leave  the  town !  .  .  . 

MRS  CLEGG.     Oh,  no  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  We'll  go  to  Canada  or  some- 
where, where  we  can  start  afresh.  The  money 
shall  be  paid,  and  you  shan't  have  any  anxiety 
about  the  future.  Will  you  agree  to  say  nothing 
to  Mr  Harper,  if  we  do  that  ? 

MR  MORRISON.     I  don't  want  to  appear  hard  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  Please,  Mr  Morrison.  You  see, 
it  isn't  only  Henry.  There's  Johnnie  and  Jenny. 

MR  MORRISON.     Yes,  I  see  that,  of  course. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I'd  planned  things  for  them, 
but !  .  .  .  Oh,  well,  it  can't  be  helped.  You 
won't  speak  to  Mr  Harper  about  this,  will  you  ? 

MR  MORRISON,  [after  a  short  pause.]  All 
right,  Mrs  Clegg,  I  won't ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  You'd  better  come  here  to- 
morrow evening  for  the  money,  hadn't  you  ?  It 
might  look  odd  if  I  were  to  come  to  the  office 
with  a  lot  of  money. 

MR  MORRISON.  Perhaps  you're  right.  Very 
well,  I'll  come  in  just  before  tea.  Will  that  do  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.       YeS. 


ACT  n]  JANE  CLEGG  63 

MR  MORRISON.  Well,  I  better  be  going  now. 
I'm  glad  that's  over.  [He  holds  out  his  hand  to 
JANE.]  Good-night,  Mrs  Clegg.  I'm  sorry  to 
have  brought  you  bad  news. 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  couldn't  help  it,  and  it  was 
better  that  you  should  have  brought  it  than 
anyone  else. 

MR  MORRISON.      [going  to  MRS  CLEGG.]      That's 

true.     Good-night  ma'am  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.     [feebly.]     Good-night,  sir. 

MR  MORRISON.     Good-night,  Clegg. 

CLEGG  rises  from  his  chair,  and  holds  out 
his  hand,  which  MORRISON  ignores. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Oh,  good-night,  old  chap. 

MR  MORRISON,  [to  JANE.]  Don't  trouble  to 
come  to  the  door,  Mrs  Clegg.  I'll  let  myself  out. 

JANE  CLEGG.     It's  all  right. 

MORRISON  and  she  go  out  into  the  passage. 
She  opens  the  door  for  him  and  lets  him  out. 
MRS  CLEGG  sits  at  the  fire,  snivelling.  HENRY 
CLEGG  moodily  eats  his  supper.  JANE  CLEGG 
returns  to  the  room,  shutting  the  door  after 
her. 
It's  turned  colder,  I  think. 

Neither  HENRY  CLEGG  nor  his  mother  re- 
spond. JANE  CLEGG  draws  her  chair  up  to 
the  fire.  She  sits  thinking  for  a  few  minutes. 


64  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

MRS  CLEGG.  Aren't  you  goin'  to  'ave  your 
supper,  Jane  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  don't  feel  like  eating, 
thanks  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [sullenly.]  No  good  making 
a  martyr  of  yourself. 

JANE  CLEGG.     Henry  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.      Well  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  What  did  you  do  with  the 
money  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.      I  Spent  it. 

MRS  CLEGG.     [horror-stricken.]    You  spent  it ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Oh,  don't  sit  there  looking 
like  a  damned  fool.  I  spent  it,  that's  all. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Oh,  wot  disgrace  to  'appen. 
[She  becomes  inarticulate.] 

JANE  CLEGG.     What  did  you  do  with  it  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [blustering.']  God  bless  my 
soul,  am  I  not  to  have  any  peace  ?  I'm  fagged 
out !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  must  know  what  you  did  with 
it.  I  have  a  right  to  know.  What  did  you  do 
with  it  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  dunno.  One  thing  and 
another. 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  must  know.  You've  only 
had  it  a  few  days. 


ACT  n]  JANE  CLEGG  65 

MRS  CLEGG.  Such  a  thing's  never  been  known 
in  our  family  before. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Oh,  shut  up,  you  1  Sitting 
there,  snivelling  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  What  did  you  do  with  the 
money,  Henry  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.     I  tell  you  I  spent  it ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  You've  told  so  many  lies  to- 
night !  .  .  . 

MRS  CLEGG.  [reproachfully.]  'E's  your 
'usban',  Jane  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  If  I'm  to  repay  the  money  he 
stole,  I  must  know  what  he  did  with  it. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  All  right.  Look  here,  Jane, 
you'll  see  me  through  this,  won't  you  ?  They 
could  put  me  in  jail,  you  know.  ...  I  couldn't 
stand  that !  It's  Harper's  own  fault,  blast  him  1 

MRS  CLEGG.     I  knoo  it  was  someone's  fault ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [to  JANE.]  It  was  like  this, 
you  see  !  You  know  when  they  put  me  on  that 
new  round  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.      Yes. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Well,  it's  an  expensive  round 
to  work.  You  have  to  treat  these  damned  shop- 
keepers like  lords  before  they'll  give  you  an  order. 
And  I'm  only  allowed  a  pound  a  week  for  ex- 
penses. I've  spent  that  in  a  day.  Of  course, 
E 


66  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

I  didn't  tell  you.  I  didn't  want  to  upset  you, 
and  I  thought  I  should  pull  round  all  right.  So 
I  should,  only  for  the  bad  debts.  It  was  that 
did  it.  A  man  went  smash  and  hadn't  paid  a 
sou  to  us,  and  so  old  Harper  made  me  responsible 
for  the  whole  bally  lot.  He's  like  that,  the  old 
screw.  Makes  his  travellers  bear  the  bad  debts. 
That  was  how  it  began.  I  tried  to  make  it  up 
by  horse-racing.  You  know  !  Oh,  it's  a  mug's 
game,  I  know  that,  but  we're  all  mugs  when 
we're  in  a  hole.  I  was  in  a  rotten  hole,  too. 
That  fellow  Munce  who  came  in  here  the  other 
night,  he's  a  bookie.  He  was  worrying  me  for 
money  I  owed  him,  and  you  wouldn't  let  me 
have  any  .  .  . 

MES  CLEGG.  I  knoo  you  was  doin'  wrong  in 
not  lettin'  'im  'ave  it. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  And  then  that  cheque  came. 
I  didn't  mean  to  take  it  really.  It  just  came  into 
my  head.  I  thought  I'd  be  able  to  make  it  up 
somehow. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Why  didn't  you  tell  me  about 
the  bad  debts  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  What  would  have  been  the 
good  ?  It  was  before  your  uncle  left  you  that 
money. 

JANE  CLEGG.     Why  didn't  you  tell  me  then  ? 


ACT  n]  JANE  CLEGG  67 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I'd  started  betting  then,  and 
I  wasn't  exactly  proud  of  myself. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Jus'  like  'is  poor  father  was. 
'E  was  proud,  too. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Besides,  I  thought  you'd  be 
sure  to  let  me  have  the  money  or  some  of  it. 
It  seemed  natural  somehow. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Any  nice  woman  would  'ave  let 
you  'ave  it. 

JANE  CLEGG.  It  would  have  been  better  to 
have  told  me  than  to  let  Morrison  find  out. 
You'll  have  to  leave  Mr  Harper,  now  !  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.       I  SUppOSC  SO. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Oh,  what  a  good  job  it  was  your 
uncle  Tom  died  when  'e  did,  Jane,  It  was  jus' 
like  the  'and  of  Providence.  You'll  be  able  to 
make  some  use  of  that  money,  now,  'stead  of 
'oardin'  it  up. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Yes,  that's  true.  Only  it  wasn't 
the  kind  of  use  I  wanted  to  make  of  it. 

MRS  CLEGG.  What  better  use  could  you  make 
of  it  than  to  save  your  'usban's  good  name  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  [beginning  to  clear  away  the 
remnants  of  the  meal.]  Yes,  I  suppose  that's  a 
great  privilege. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [rising  from  his  seat,  and  taking 
the  plates  from  her.]  Here,  let  me  do  that.  You 


68  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  n 

sit  down,  and  take  it  easy  for  a  bit.  [He  puts 
the  plates  down  and  pushes  her  into  a  chair.] 
You've  had  a  rotten  day  of  it.  [He  puts  his  arms 
about  her  and  kisses  her.]  You're  a  jolly  good 
sort,  Jane.  You  are,  straight. 

JANE  CLEGG.  [getting  up  from  her  chair,  and 
proceeding  with  the  work  of  clearing  away.]  Yes. 

CLEGG  looks  for  his  pipe,  which  he  lights. 

He  takes  the  chair  which  his  wife  has  just 

vacated. 

Don't  you  think  we'd  better  go  to  bed.  It's 
getting  late. 

MKS  CLEGG.  Yes,  I  think  so,  too.  I'm  goin' 
any'ow.  [She  rises  and  goes  to  her  son,  whom  she 
fondles.]  Goo'-night,  my  dear,  an'  don't  worry 
your  'ead  about  nothink.  Jane'll  see  it's  all 
right. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Good-night,  mother. 
MRS  CLEGG.    [going  to  JANE.]  Goo'-night,  Jane. 
You've  bin  a  good  wife  to  'im. 

JANE  CLEGG.  [indifferently.]  Good-night, 
mother. 

The  two  women  kiss,  and  MRS  CLEGG  goes 

out  of  the  room.     There  is  quiet  for  a  while. 

JANE    takes   the   dishes   out   of   the   room. 

CLEGG   stands   with   his   back   to   the   fire, 

watching  her.    JANE  returns  to  the  room, 


ACT  n]  JANE  CLEGG  69 

looking  dubious.    HENRY  glances  up  at  her 
quickly. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  What  are  you  thinking  about, 
Jane  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  Oh,  I  wish  I  could  be  sure  of 
you,  Henry  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Well,  you  are,  aren't  you  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  don't  know.  Oh,  yes,  I 
suppose  so.  Come  on,  let's  go  to  bed.  [She 
gathers  up  her  sewing  and  moves  towards  the  door.] 
Turn  out  the  lamp,  will  you  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Yes,  dear.  [He  turns  out  the 
light.  JANE  stands  in  the  doorway.]  Don't  be 
hard  on  me,  Jane.  I'm  not  really  a  bad  chap. 
I'm  only  weak.  That's  all. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  can't  help  thinking  of  that 
woman,  Henry. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [putting  his  arms  about  her.] 
You  needn't,  dear.  I  swear  to  God  I've  not  done 
anything  against  you.  I  promised  you  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.     Yes,  you  promised  !  .  .  . 

She  goes  towards  the  stairs,  and  he  follows, 
closing  the  door  after  him. 


ACT  III 

It  is  the  next  evening.  MRS  CLEGG  and  JANE 
CLEGG  are  sitting  by  the  fire.  The  door 
leading  to  the  hall  is  ajar. 

MRS  CLEGG.  It's  a  good  job  'Enry  was  'ere. 
Johnnie  and  Jenny  wouldn't  'ave  gone  to  bed 
so  quiet  as  they  did. 

JANE  CLEGG.     [without  looking  up.]    No. 

MRS  CLEGG.  I  do  'ope  they'll  never  get  to 
'ear  about  this.  Such  disgrace !  Though  I 
must  say  it  serves  Mr  'Arper  right.  I  'aven't 
no  sympathy  for  'im.  'E  didden  treat  'Enry 
fair,  makin'  'im  pay  all  them  bad  debts  an'  all. 

JANE  CLEGG.     It  doesn't  seem  quite  fair. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Poor  'Enry  !  I  expec'  'e  felt  it, 
you  know.  Bound  to  'ave.  'E's  that  sensitive. 
'Ighly-strung !  I  dessay  'e  worried  about  it, 
on'y  'e  wouldn't  say  nothink. 

JANE  CLEGG.     Perhaps  he  did. 

MRS  CLEGG.  You  know,  I  wonder  'e  didden 
give  it  away  in  'is  sleep.  Talk  about  it !  I've 
always  'card  that  people  with  things  on  their 

70 


ACT  in]  JANE  CLEGG  71 

mind  dreams  somethink  'orrible,  an'  begins 
talkin'  in  their  sleep,  an'  their  wives  gets  to  'ear 
about  it. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  don't  suppose  that  always 
happens.  Henry  never  revealed  anything  in  his 
sleep. 

MRS  CLEGG.  P'raps  you  was  asleep  an'  didden 
'ear.  'Is  father  uset  to  do  it,  but  I  never  could 
make  'ead  or  tail  out  o'  wot  'e  said. 

HENRY  CLEGG  COmCS  down  the  StttlTS  OS  she 

speaks,  and  enters  the  room. 

JANE  CLEGG.     Are  they  asleep,  Henry  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [coming  between  his  mother  and 
wife,  and  sitting  down.]  Yes.  Jenny  took  a  long 
time  to  go  off.  Young  beggar.  Wanted  me  to 
tell  stories  to  her  all  night. 

MRS  CLEGG.     Bless  'er  ! 

They  sit  in  silence  for  a  few  moments. 

MRS  CLEGG.  'Ave  you  thought  of  wot  you'll 
do  when  this  .  .  .  bother's  over,  'Enry  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Not  yet,  mother. 

JANE  CLEGG.  We  shall  leave  here,  of  course. 
We'll  start  afresh  in  Canada. 

MRS  CLEGG.  It's  an  awful  long  way  to  Canada. 
I  don't  know  anyone  there  1  ... 

JANE  CLEGG.  That's  why  we  shall  go.  Oh, 
mother,  can't  you  see,  it's  bound  to  come  out 


72  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  in 

that  Henry  took  the  money.  Men  don't  leave 
their  jobs  suddenly  without  good  cause  ;  and 
how  are  we  to  know  that  Mr  Morrison  won't  tell 
people  why  Henry  left  Mr  Harper.  He  might 
tell  without  meaning  to.  Something  might  be 
said  that  would  start  suspicion  in  people's  minds, 
and  then  !  .  .  .  Oh,  it  would  be  awful  for 
Johnnie  and  Jenny. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  It's  all  Johnnie  and  Jenny 
with  you  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  Yes,  it  is,  Henry.  You  must 
get  used  to  that,  [to  MRS  CLEGG.]  People  are 
not  likely  to  suspect  anything  if  we  go  to 
Canada.  Henry  can  tell  his  friends  that  he's 
tired  of  England.  .  .  .  It's  easy  enough  to 
say  that  I  ... 

MRS  CLEGG.  I  dessay  you're  right ;  but  it's 
'ard  at  my  age  to  'ave  to  go  abroad.  I'm  a  nole 
woman !  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Yes,  mother,  we  know  that. 
We  can't  help  it.  Do  for  goodness  sake  stop 
whining  about  it. 

MRS  CLEGG.  [tearfully.]  That  isn't  the  way 
to  speak  to  your  mother,  'Enry  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  No,  but  you  make  me  talk 
like  it.  Nothing  but  snivelling  all  day.  If 
we've  got  to  go,  we've  got  to  go,  and  there's  an 


ACT  in]  JANE  CLEGG  73 

end  of  it.  Jane  has  all  the  money,  and  she's 
boss  here.  We've  got  to  do  what  she  tells  us. 

MRS  CLEGG.     It's  not  right.     It's  unnatcherl. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [getting  up  and  pacing  the 
room.]  All  right !  You've  said  that  before.  If 
you  don't  want  to  go  to  Canada,  dam  it,  stay 
behind. 

JANE  CLEGG.     [gently.]    Henry ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Well,  it's  sickening,  isn't  it. 
I  can't  see  any  sense  in  crying  over  spilt  milk. 

MRS  CLEGG.  You  didden  ought  to  'ave  spilt 
no  milk  !  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Oh,  for  God's  sake,  shut  up  ! 
If  I'm  to  have  the  thing  cast  up  to  me  for  the 
rest  of  my  life,  I  might  as  well  go  and  drown 
myself. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Oh,  'Enry  !  [She  rises  from  her 
seat  and  goes  to  him.]  I  didden  mean  to  cast 
nothink  up  at  you,  'Enry.  I  didden  reely.  [She 
puts  her  arms  round  him  and  draws  his  head 
down  and  kisses  him.]  You're  my  son,  'Enry,  all 
I  got.  ...  I  love  you,  'Enry  !  .  .  .  [She  weeps 
helplessly  and  buries  her  face  on  his  breast.] 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [patting  her  affectionately.] 
All  right,  mother.  I'm  sorry  I  was  snappy. 
Here,  come  and  sit  down.  [He  leads  her  back  to 
her  seat.]  You'll  be  all  right  in  Canada.  [He 


74  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  m 

makes  her  sit  down.]  We'll  have  you  searching 
for  gold  at  Klondyke  in  no  time.  [There  is  a 
knock  at  the  street  door.]  I  suppose  that's 
Morrison  1  Buck  up,  mother,  we  can't  have  him 
seeing  you  in  tears. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Awright,  'Enry,  dear.  I  won't 
cry  no  more. 

JANE  CLEGG.     You  open  the  door,  Henry. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Right.  [He  goes  into  the  hall 
and  opens  the  street  door.  MORRISON  is  seen 
standing  in  the  street.]  Oh,  is  that  you,  Morrison ! 
Come  in ! 

MR  MORRISON,     [stepping  inside.]    Thanks. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Leave  your  hat  here,  will  you  ? 

MR  MORRISON,  [hanging  his  hat  on  the  hat- 
stand.]  Thanks.  I'm  not  too  soon,  am  I  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  No,  oh  no !  You're  just 
right.  Come  in  ! 

They  enter  the  sitting  room.    HENRY  CLEGG 
shuts  the  door  while  MORRISON  greets  MRS 

CLEGG  and  JANE  CLEGG. 

[putting  a  chair  for  MORRISON.].     Have  this 
chair,  will  you  ? 

MR  MORRISON,  [sitting  down.]  Thanks.  It's 
a  nice  night,  isn't  it  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Yes,  I  thought  we  were  going 
to  have  some  rain,  but  it's  kept  fine. 


ACT  m]  JANE  CLEGG  75 

MB  MORRISON.  Yes.  We  don't  want  any 
more  rain  just  yet,  do  we  ? 

MRS  CLEGG.  There's  been  a  lot  of  rain  lately. 
I  expect  it's  good  for  some  people,  farmers  and 
people  like  that.  I  must  say  I  don't  like  it.  I 
always  get  the  rheumatism  that  bad. 

MR  MORRISON.  They  do  say  that  a  man  that's 
had  his  leg  off  can  always  tell  when  it's  going  to 
rain. 

MRS  CLEGG.     Indeed  ! 

MR  MORRISON.  Yes.  He  gets  a  funny  feeling 
in  the  stump — sort  of  pins  and  needles. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  That's  funny,  that  is.  You'd 
wonder  why  that  was. 

MRS  CLEGG.  I  expect  it  'as  a  meaning,  if  we 
on'y  knoo  it.  There's  nothink  without  a 
meanin'.  I've  always  said  that,  an'  I  believe 
it. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Hadn't  we  better  settle  Mr 
Morrison's  business,  Henry  ?  I  expect  he's 
anxious  to  get  away. 

MR  MORRISON.  Oh,  I'm  in  no  hurry,  Mrs 
Clegg!  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Did  the  guv'nor  ask  where  I 
was  to-day  ? 

MR  MORRISON.  Well,  you  see,  I  told  him  the 
whole  facts !  , 


76  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  m 

MRS  CLEGG.  You  tole  Mr  'Arper !  Oh,  but 
you  promised  you  wouldn't. 

JANE  CLEGG.  It  doesn't  make  much  differ- 
ence. It  was  bound  to  come  out.  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  think  you  might  have  kept 
it  to  yourself,  Morrison. 

MR  MORRISON.  I  daresay  you  do,  but  I've 
got  myself  to  think  of.  Supposing  there'd  been 
a  hitch  in  this  affair,  where'd  I  be,  eh  ?  The 
guv'nor  was  almost  sure  to  find  it  out,  and  if  he 
found  I'd  kept  it  from  him,  he  might  have 
thought  I  was  in  it,  too.  I've  always  kept  my 
hands  clean  !  .  .  . 

MRS  CLEGG.  You  better  touch  wood,  Mr 
Morrison.  You  don't  know  'ow  soon  it'll  be 
before  you  get  into  trouble. 

MR  MORRISON.  I'm  not  that  sort.  I  don't 
get  into  trouble.  Trouble  doesn't  come  to  you  ; 
you  go  to  it.  That's  my  belief. 

JANE  CLEGG.  You're  a  fortunate  man,  Mr 
Morrison.  I  hope  you  will  always  be  able  to 
believe  that. 

MR  MORRISON.     I  expect  I  shall. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     What  did  the  guv'nor  say  ? 

MR  MORRISON.  He  was  furious  at  first. 
Stormed  and  raged,  and  threatened  to  send  for 
the  police  at  once.  You  know  the  way  he  goes 


ACT  in]  JANE  CLEGG  77 

on  when  he's  in  a  temper.  I  let  him  go  for 
a  while,  and  then  told  him  of  the  arrange- 
ment I'd  made  with  Mrs  Clegg  that  the  money 
should  be  repaid,  and  that  soothed  him  down. 
I  told  him  it  would  be  silly  to  send  for  the 
police !  .  .  . 

MRS  CLEGG.  Oh,  thank  you,  Mr  Morrison, 
thank  you  ! 

ME  MORRISON.  Because,  of  course,  he  might 
not  get  the  money.  That's  what  I  told  him. 
Of  course,  he'd  have  got  it  all  right.  The  in- 
surance company  would  have  paid,  if  you  hadn't, 
and  they'd  have  been  glad  enough  to  get  their 
money  back  somehow. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Mr  'Arper  is  more  to  blame  than 
'Enry.  That's  wot  I  think. 

MR  MORRISON.  Well,  of  course,  that's  one 
way  of  looking  at  it. 

MRS  CLEGG.  It's  the  only  way  to  look  at  it. 
If'e'adn't  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.  All  right,  mother.  Morrison 
doesn't  want  to  hear  your  views  on  Mr  Harper. 
Jane,  we'd  better  settle  this,  hadn't  we  ? 
Have  you  got  the  money  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  Yes.  It's  upstairs.  I'll  go 
and  fetch  it.  It's  in  notes,  Mr  Morrison.  I 
thought  that  would  be  more  convenient. 


78  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  ra 

MR  MORRISON.  Yes,  that  was  the  best  thing 
to  do,  Mrs  Clegg. 

JANE  CLEGG  goes  out  and  is  seen  to  mount 
the  stairs. 

MRS  CLEGG.  I  do  think  Mr  'Arper  ought  to 
'ave  come  'ere  'imself  for  the  money. 

MR  MORRISON.      Oh  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.  'Ow  do  we  know  it'll  be  all 
right !  .  .  . 

MR  MORRISON.  Do  you  mean  to  suggest  that 
I  might  steal  the  money  ?  .  .  . 

MRS  CLEGG.  I  don't  mean  to  suggest  any- 
think,  but  I  believe  in  bein'  on  the  safe 
side. 

MR  MORRISON,  [hotly.]  Everyone  isn't  like 
your  son,  you  know. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [angrily.]  You  needn't  put 
on  the  virtuous  air,  Morrison  !  .  .  . 

MR  MORRISON.  I'm  not  putting  on  any  vir- 
tuous air.  I've  tried  to  make  things  as  pleasant 
for  you  as  possible,  and  I  get  nothing  but  insults 
from  your  mother.  You'd  think  to  hear  her 
that  I'd  stolen  the  money,  not  you.  .  .  .  I've 
always  kept  my  hands  clean.  There's  nothing 
in  my  life  I'd  be  ashamed  to  let  anyone  know 
about. 

CLEGG.     Well,  you  ain't  yooman,  then  ! 


ACT  in]  JANE  CLEGG  79 

I  tell  you  this,  Mr  Morrison,  I  don't  believe  you. 
Now  1 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Mother,  mother  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.  No,  'Enry,  I  won't  sit  'ere  an' 
'ear  you  made  little  of.  'Ow  do  we  know  Vs 
any  better'n  you.  We  on'y  got  'is  word  for  it. 

MR  MORRISON.     I  must  say  !  .  .  . 

MRS  CLEGG.  There's  things  in  everyone's  life 
they  don't  want  to  talk  about.  If  it  isn't  one 
thing,  it's  another.  That's  wot  I've  learned 
from  bein'  alive.  It's  on'y  yooman.  Wot  'ud  be 
the  use  of  'avin'  a  Merciful  Father  if  'E'  adn't 
got  nothink  to  be  merciful  about !  That's  'ow 
I  look  at  it !  An'  I  dessay,  Mr  Morrison,  for  all 
you're  so  good  an'  'oly,  you  got  somethink  you 
don't  want  to  go  braggin'  about.  There's  some 
people  does  things  they're  not  ashamed  of  an' 
ought  to  be. 

JANE  CLEGG  returns  to  the  room  while  MRS 
CLEGG  is  speaking. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Don't  mind  her,  Morrison ; 
she's  a  bit  upset. 

MRS  CLEGG.     Look  at  Mr  'Arper  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.     What's  wrong,  mother  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.  It's  that  Mr  Morrison  with  'is 
'oly  airs.  'E  never  done  nothink  to  be  ashamed 
of,  'e  says,  an'  of  course  'e's  better'n  my  'Enry. 


80  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  in 

JANE  CLEGG.  Well,  well,  mother,  what's  it 
matter  what  anyone  thinks  about  him,  if  you're 
satisfied  with  him. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Now,  there's  ole  'Arper.  Look 
at  'im.  Look  'ow  'e  treated  'Enry  ! 

MR  MORRISON.  If  you  ask  me,  Mr  Harper 
treated  him  jolly  well. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Oh,  indeed !  Indeed  !  Making 
'im  pay  all  the  bad  debts  was  treatin'  'im  well, 
I  suppose ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [agitated.]  Mother,  for  good- 
ness sake,  hold  your  tongue,  [to  MORRISON.] 
Don't  take  any  notice  of  her,  old  chap.  Jane, 
have  you  got  the  money  ? 

MR  MORRISON.     What  bad  debts  ? 

MRS  CLEGG.  You  know  well  enough  what  bad 
debts.  Don't  put  on  the  'oly  an'  innocent  look 
to  me.  I  know  your  sort.  It  wassen  'is  fault 
they  didden  pay  for  wot  they  ordered  ! 

MR  MORRISON.     Who  didn't  pay  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  All  right,  old  chap.  Can't 
you  see  she's  upset. 

MR  MORRISON.  I  don't  know  what  she  means 
by  bad  debts. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Oh,  yes,  you  do.  Puttin'  'im  on 
a  dear  round  an'  then  makin'  'im  pay  the  bad 
debts  ! 


ACT  in]  JANE  CLEGG  81 

MR  MORRISON.  Look  here,  Mrs  Clegg,  I've 
had  enough  of  this,  see  !  I  don't  know  what 
tale  he's  been  telling  you  !  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.  It  doesn't  matter,  old  chap, 
it  doesn't  matter.  Let's  get  this  business  settled. 
Jane !  .  .  . 

MR  MORRISON.  I'm  not  going  to  be  shut  up. 
[to  MRS  CLEGG.]  He's  had  the  best  and  easiest 
round  of  the  lot,  and  he  hasn't  had  a  single  bad 
debt  for  a  year  past,  and  those  he  used  to  have, 
the  guv'nor  bore  two-thirds.  See !  I'm  not 
going  to  stay  here  and  listen  to  you  abusing  the 
guv'nor  for  nothing  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  He  hasn't  had  a  single  bad 
debt!  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.  It's  all  right  dear.  I'll  explain 
it  all  presently.  Let's  settle  this  affair  first. 
Morrison  doesn't  want  to  hear  our  quarrels. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  don't  understand.  You  said 
you  had  to  pay  the  bad  debts,  and  that  you  took 
the  money  to  make  them  up. 

MR  MORRISON.     All  lies,  that's  what  it  is  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.  Don't  you  dare  to  insult  my  son, 
you! 

JANE  CLEGG.  Please  keep  quiet,  mother. 
Henry,  is  this  true  ? 

MR  MORRISON.     Of  course  it's  true  1 


82  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  ra 

JANE  CLEGG.  I'm  speaking  to  my  husband, 
Mr  Morrison.  Henry,  will  you  explain  ?  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.  It's  all  right,  dear.  It's 
quite  simple.  I  can  make  it  clear  in  a  minute 
or  two,  but  I  prefer  to  do  it  when  we're  alone. 
I  object  to  discussing  private  matters  before 
strangers. 

JANE  CLEGG.  No,  you  must  tell  me  now. 
It's  only  fair  to  Mr  Morrison. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Of  course,  if  you  accept  'is  word 
to  'Enry's  !  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Mother,  for  the  love  of  God 
shut  up  !  You've  made  enough  mess  already 
without  making  it  worse. 

MRS  CLEGG.  If  a  mother  can't  speak  up  for 
'er  son  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  Mother,  you'd  better  reconcile 
yourself  to  the  fact  that  Henry  has  been  lying 
again  !  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [blustering.]  This  is  too 
much,  this  is.  Look  here,  Morrison,  if  you're  a 
gentleman  you'll  clear  out  and  leave  us  to  settle 
this  matter  alone. 

MR  MORRISON.     I  haven't  had  the  money  yet. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  That'll  be  all  right.  You  can 
come  to-morrow. 

MR  MORRISON.     I  won't  go  till  I  get  it. 


ACT  in]  JANE  CLEGG  83 

HENRY  CLEGG.  If  you  don't  want  to  be 
thrown  out,  you'll  go  now  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  That'll  do,  Henry.  Mr  Morrison 
will  stay  until  you've  explained  the  position. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Then  he  can  stay  till  he's 
blue  in  the  face.  I  won't  explain.  I'm  not  going 
to  be  bullied  by  him  or  by  you.  I'm  a  man,  not 
a  child. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  shall  not  pay  the  money  until 
I  hear  your  explanation. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  don't  care.  Keep  your 
dam  money.  They  can  do  what  they  like. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Very  well.  I'm  sorry,  Mr 
Morrison.  Good-night ! 

MR  MORRISON.  This  is  pretty  serious,  you  know. 

JANE  CLEGG.     I  know.     Good-night ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [still  blustering.]  I  don't  care 
a  damn  ! 

MR  MORRISON.  I  shall  go  straight  to  Mr 
Harper,  and  tell  him  what's  happened.  I 
shouldn't  be  surprised  if  he  applies  for  a 
warrant  at  once. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     [anxiously.]     What,  to-night ! 

MR  MORRISON.      Yes. 

JANE  CLEGG.     I  can't  help  that. 
MRS   CLEGG.     Oh,   Jane,   an'    'im    your  own 
'usban' ! 


84  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  m 

MR  MORRISON,  [hesitating.}  I  don't  under- 
stand you,  Mrs  Clegg.  After  all,  he  is  your 
husband  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  wonder.  I  thought  I  was 
marrying  a  man  I  could  trust.  Henry's  a  liar. 
I  can't  trust  him. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Go  on.  Make  me  out  all 
that's  bad. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Henry,  why  are  you  talking  as 
if  you  were  being  unjustly  treated  ?  You  know 
that  you  have  lied  to  me  from  first  to  last. 
Even  now  I  don't  know  how  you  managed  to 
get  into  debt  as  you  did. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     I've  told  you.     Gambling. 

MR  MORRISON.  Good  heavens  !  A  gambler,  a 
liar,  and  a  thief  ! 

MRS  CLEGG.     It's  none  of  your  business. 

MR  MORRISON.     No,  thank  God. 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  just  gambled  the  money 
away,  Henry  ?  Is  that  so  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Yes.  I  said  that  about  the 
bad  debts  to  make  the  thing  look  a  bit  better 
than  it  was.  [He  comes  up  to  her.}  Jane,  I'm 
sorry.  I'm  really  sorry.  I  ought  to  have  told 
you  the  truth.  I  know  that.  But  I  was 
ashamed,  I  was  really.  Get  me  out  of  this 
scrape,  Jane,  and  I  swear  I  won't  give  you  cause 


ACT  in]  JANE  CLEGG  85 

to  complain  again.  Morrison,  you  won't  tell  old 
Harper  to-night,  will  you  ?  Good  God,  man,  I 
might  be  arrested  this  evening.  Jane,  you'll 
get  me  out  of  it,  won't  you.  I  couldn't  stand  it. 
Look  here,  I  swear  I'll  be  a  good  husband  to 
you,  I  will.  I'll  swear  it  on  the  Bible,  if  you 
like.  I  didn't  mean  what  I  said  just  now.  It 
was  all  talk. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  wonder  if  you're  worth  saving, 
Henry ! 

MRS  CLEGG  bursts  into  tears. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I'll  make  myself  worth  saving, 
Jane.  I  will,  I  swear  I  will.  [He  tries  to  kiss 
her,  but  she  turns  away  from  him.]  Morrison, 
you  say  something.  Mother. 

JANE  CLEGG.  It  isn't  necessary,  Henry.  I'll 
pay  the  money. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Oh,  God  bless  you,  Jane. 
[He  collapses  into  a  chair  in  something  like  hys- 
terics.] I  couldn't  face  prison.  [There  is  a  loud 
persistent  knocking  on  the  door.  Starting  up  in 
agitation.]  Oh,  who's  that  ?  [JANE  goes  towards 
the  door.]  No,  no,  don't  answer.  Morrison,  it's 
all  right,  isn't  it  ?  You  haven't  told  the  police. 

MR  MORRISON.     Of  course  I  haven't. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Oh,  my  God,  I  shall  go  out 
of  my  mind  !  [The  knocking  continues.]  Curse 


86  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  in 

it,  who  can  it  be  ?  [JANE  goes  into  the  hall, 
leaving  the  door  open.]  If  it's  anyone  for  me, 
Jane,  say  I'm  not  in.  No,  wait  a  bit !  I'll 
open  it. 

JANE  returns  to  the  room,  and  CLEGG  goes 
into  the  hall,  shutting  the  door  behind  him. 
The  knocking  continues. 

MR  MORRISON.     Seems  a  bit  upset,  doesn't  he  ? 

MRS  CLEGG.     [tearfully.]    You'd  be  upset   if 

you   was   'im.     The   way   you   all   go  for   'im. 

[There  is  the  sound  of  a  scuffle  at  the  street  door, 

and  a  loud  shouting.]     'Ooever  is  that  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.     [opening  the  door.]    What's  the 
matter,  Henry  ? 

She  opens  the  door  wide,  and  her  husband  is 
seen  trying  to  shut  the  street  door.  A  voice 
is  heard  on  the  other  side  of  it,  shouting, 
"  You  let  me  in,  or  if  II  be  the  worse  for  you, 
see  !  " 

HENRY  CLEGG.     It's  all  right,  Jane.    You  go 
inside,  will  you  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.     That's  Mr  Munce's  voice,  isn't 
it? 

MUNCE.     I'll     show    you    up,     you    blasted 
welsher  ! 

He  heaves  the  door  open,  and  stumbles  into 
the  hall  against  HENRY  CLEGG. 


ACT  in]  JANE  CLEGG  87 

Keep  me  out,  would  you  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.     You've  no  right !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.     What  is  it,  Mr  Munce  ? 

MUNCE.  I  want  my  money,  that's  what  it  is. 
'E  promised  to  let  me  'ave  it !  ... 

JANE  CLEGG.     Come  in,  won't  you  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  No,  I  can't  have  you  in  here 
to-night.  I've  got  a  friend  in  to  see  me. 

MUNCE.  I  don't  care  about  your  friend.  You 
py  me  my  money  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I'll  settle  with  you  to- 
morrow. 

MUNCE.  Yes,  I  know.  I've  'card  that  tale 
before. 

JANE  CLEGG.     What  is  it,  what  is  it  ? 

MUNCE.     I  want  my  money. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  tell  you,  I'll  give  it  to  you 
to-morrow. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Shut  the  door,  Henry.  We 
don't  want  the  neighbours  to  hear  this.  Come 
in,  Mr  Munce. 

JANE  CLEGG  re-enters  the  room,  and  is  fol- 
lowed by  MUNCE.  HENRY  CLEGG  stands 
irresolutely  at  the  door,  and  then  closes  it, 
coming  back  to  the  room  with  the  others. 

MUNCE.  I  don't  want  to  make  no  fuss.  .  .  . 
\to  MRS  CLEGG.]  Goo-deevnin',  ma'am  ! 


88  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  m 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Can't  you  see  we've  got  a 
friend  here  to-night.  Nice  thing  this  I  must 
say  intruding  into  people's  houses  like  this. 

MUNCE.  Can't  help  'oo  you  'ave  'ere,  I  must 
'ave  my  money,  an'  I  don't  go  out  of  'ere  till  I 
get  it,  see  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.     What  money,  Mr  Munce  ? 

MUNCE.  What  'e  owes  me.  This  long  time,  'e 
does.  You  ast  'im.  Go  on,  you  ast  'im.  I 
waited  patient !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.    But  what's  it  for  ?    Henry  !  .  .  . 

HENKY  CLEGG.  All  right,  dear.  You'd  better 
leave  this  to  me.  [to  MUNCE.]  Look  here, 
Munce,  it's  no  good  you  going  on  like  this.  I'll 
settle  up  with  you  the  first  thing  in  the  morning, 
I  promise  you  I  will. 

MUNCE.  Yes,  I  know  all  about  that,  but 
it  won't  work,  see  !  I  want  my  money  now, 
see !  Look  'ere,  I  treated  you  fair,  didden 
I? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Yes,  yes,  I  know,  but  I've  got 
a  friend  here  now  !  .  .  . 

MUNCE.  Well,  you  gimme  me  money  an'  I'll 
'ook  it  all  right ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  Mr  Munce,  will  you  please  tell 
me  how  much  my  husband  owes  you,  and  what 
it  is  for  ? 


ACT  m]  JANE  CLEGG  89 

MUNCE.  Bets,  that's  what  it's  for.  I  treated 
'im  fair  I  'ave. 

JANE  CLEGG.      Bets  ! 

MUNCE.  Yes,  you  know '  'Orse-racin' ! 
Twenty-five  quid  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  But  I  thought  .  .  .  Henry, 
you  said  you'd  taken  !  .  .  .  Oh,  what  does  it 
all  mean  ? 

MUNCE.  It  means  I  want  my  money,  that's 
what  it  means.  Look  'ere,  Mrs  Clegg,  I'm  sorry 
to  upset  you  or  anythink  but  I  must  have  it, 
you  know,  or  I'll  be  up  the  pole,  straight.  Look 
'ere,  you've  got  a  bit  by  you  now.  Let  'im  'ave 
it,  so's  'e  can  py  me  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  It's  no  good  you  worrying  my 
wife,  Munce.  I'll  come  and  see  you  to-morrow. 

ME  MORRISON.  Perhaps,  Mrs  Clegg,  we'd 
better  settle  our  business  first.  Then  I  can  leave 
you  with  this  gentleman. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I'll  bring  the  money  in  the 
morning,  Mr  Morrison ! 

MR  MORRISON.  If  you  don't  mind,  I'd  rather 
take  it  with  me  to-night.  You  know  the  old 
proverb  :  a  bird  in  the  band  is  worth  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.     Very  well,  Mr  Morrison. 

MR  MORRISON.     I'm  sorry  to  appear  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.     You're  quite  right,  Mr  Morrison. 


90  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  in 

She  opens  the  cash-box  and  takes  out  a  roll 
of  notes,  which  she  proceeds  to  count. 

MUNCE.  No  one's  more  sorry'n  I  am  to  make 
a  fuss  !  .  .  . 

MBS  CLEGG.  [lachrymosely.]  Well,  wot  you 
want  to  come  an'  make  it  for  ? 

MUNCE.  You'd  make  one  woulden  you  if  you 
was  me.  I  never  failed  to  make  pyment  in  my 
life.  That's  a  fact !  There  ain't  many  bookies 
can  sy  that.  I  always  paid  up  when  the  money 
was  doo  !  An'  now  your  son  is  puttin'  me  in 
Queer  Street  by  not  pyin'  me  what  'e  owes  me. 
Ain't  that  somethink  to  make  a  fuss  about,  eih  ? 
I  got  my  name  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.    All  right,  old  chap  !  .  .  . 

MUNCE.     It  ain't  all  right. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Oh,  shut  up  !  As  soon  as  my 
wife  has  settled  with  this  gentleman,  we'll  settle 
your  affair  too. 

MUNCE.     An'  about  time,  too. 

JANE  CLEGG.  [handing  the  notes  to  MR 
MORRISON.]  I  think  that's  right,  Mr  Morrison. 
Just  count  them,  will  you. 

MR  MORRISON,  [taking  the  notes  from  her.] 
Thank  you,  Mrs  Clegg.  [He  begins  to  count  them.] 
I'd  better  give  you  a  receipt  for  the  amount, 
hadn't  I  ? 


ACT  m]  JANE  CLEGG  91 

JANE  CLEGG.     Yes,  please  ! 

MR  MORRISON,  [finishing  the  counting  of  the 
notes.]  Yes,  that's  quite  right.  [He  puts  the 
money  in  his  pocket.]  It  you  can  let  me  have  a 
pen  and  ink,  I'll  just  write  out  the  receipt. 

MUNCE.  P'raps  you'll  let  me  'ave  my  money 
too,  ma'am. 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  can  wait !  .  .  .  [She  puts 
writing  materials  before  MORRISON,  who  writes  the 
receipt.] 

MUNCE.     What  you  mean  "  wait  "  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  Until  this  gentleman  has  fin- 
ished his  business.  Then  we  will  discuss  yours. 
Please  sit  down  ! 

MUNCE.  Oh,  awright !  I  don't  want  to  be 
nasty,  on'y  I  thought  when  you  said  "  wait  " 
you  was  playin'  about.  I'm  sure  there  ain't  a 
more  patienter  chap'n  me  anywhere.  Now,  is 
there,  Clegg  ?  I  ask  you  fair  !  .  .  . 

MR  MORRISON,  [rising  and  handing  the  receipt 
to  JANE  CLEGG.]  I  think  that's  right,  Mrs 
Clegg. 

MUNCE.       [tO    MR    MORRISON.]      YOU    got    yOUP 

whack  awright.     I  wish  I'd  mine. 

MR  MORRISON.  You  have  the  advantage  of 
me,  sir. 

MUNCE.    Eh  ? 


92  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  in 

ME  MORRISON.  I  haven't  the  pleasure  of  your 
acquaintance. 

MUNCE.  Well,  it  ain't  my  fault  they  ain't 
interdooced  us,  is  it  ?  O'  course,  if  you  want 
to  be  nasty  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  Yes,  this  will  do  excellently, 
Mr  Morrison,  [holding  out  her  hand  to  him.] 
Good-night ! 

MR  MORRISON,  [shaking  her  hand  warmly.] 
Good-night,  Mrs  Clegg.  I'm  more  than  sorry  ! .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  It  was  not  your  fault.  Good- 
night. 

MR  MORRISON.  Good-night !  [He  glances 
towards  MRS  CLEGG.]  Good-night  ma'am.  [MRS 
CLEGG  makes  no  response.]  Good-night,  Clegg  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [nervously.]  Shall  I  come  to 
the  door  with  you  ? 

MR  MORRISON.  Oh,  no,  thanks.  It  doesn't 
matter.  I  can  let  myself  out.  Good-night ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [holding  out  his  hand.]  Good- 
night. 

MR  MORRISON,  [ignoring  CLEGG'S  proffered 
hand.]  Good-night  all. 

He  opens  the  hall  door,  closing  it  after  him, 
and  a  moment  later  the  noise  of  the  street  door 
being  shut  is  heard. 

JANE  CLEGG.     Now,  Mr  Munce  I  ... 


ACT  in]  JANE  CLEGG  93 

MUNCE.  Well,  it's  like  this,  Mrs  Clegg,  I'm 
not  one  to  turn  nasty  for  nothink.  'E  can  bear 
me  aht  in  that.  Can't  you,  Clegg  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Oh,  you're  right  enough  ! 

MUNCE.  That's  true.  'E'll  admit  it  'isself. 
But  wot  I  do  say  is,  I  ain't  been  treated  fair. 
Nah,  if  it  'adden  bin  for  'safternoon  !  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  say,  old  man,  come  to  the 
point.  I  owe  you  twenty-five  pounds,  and  you 
want  to  be  paid.  That's  the  point !  You're 
only  wasting  time. 

MUNCE.  That's  right  enough,  o'  course.  Yes, 
that  is  the  point.  'E  owes  me  twenty-five  quid, 
an'  I  want  it.  That's  the  point  right  enough. 

MRS  CLEGG.  People  like  you  don't  deserve  to 
get  paid  anythink.  'Orse-racin'  an'  gamblin' 
an'  leading  people  astray. 

MUNCE.  I  don't  suppose  you'd  refuse  to  tike 
the  money  if  you  mide  a  bet  wi'  me  an'  won, 
eih? 

MRS  CLEGG.  I  woulden  bet  with  you  or  no 
one,  an'  I'm  sure  that  'Enry  woulden  neither, 
on'y  you  persuaded  'im  into  it. 

MUNCE.  'E  didden  need  no  persuadin',  I  give 
you  my  word. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Mother,  don't  you  think  you'd 
better  go  to  bed. 


94  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  m 

MRS  CLEGG.  [weeping  profusely.}  I  suppose 
I  'ad.  I  don't  seem  able  to  do  nothink  right. 
I  done  all  I  could  for  you.  .  .  .  Jane's  that 
'ard! 

HENRY  CLEGG.     All  right,  mother. 

MRS  CLEGG.  [going  to  her  son  and  putting  her 
arms  about  him.]  I  love  you,  'Enry,  dear. 
You're  all  I  got  .  .  .  you  an'  Jenny  .  .  .  an' 
Johnnie,  o'  course.  I'm  a  nole  woman,  I  know, 
an'  .  .  .  don't  go  an'  do  nothink  wrong  again, 
will  you,  dear.  I  ...  I  can't  bear  to  'ear  them 
sayin'  things  about  you.  That  Mr  Morrison,  'e 
said  things  that  'urt  me  crool.  [She  kisses  him 
affectionately.]  I'm  very  fond  of  you,  'Enry. 
You're  so  like  your  poor  father. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  All  right,  mother.  Go  to  bed 
now.  All  the  bother'll  be  over  in  the  morning. 

MRS  CLEGG.     [wearily.]     Good-night,  my  dear. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Good-night,  mother. 

He  opens  the  door  for  her,  and  she  passes  out 
weeping.  She  stops  in  the  doorway  for  a 
moment  and  says  "  Good-night,  Jane  !  " 

JANE  CLEGG.     Good-night,  mother. 

MRS  CLEGG.  Don't  be  'ard  on  'im.  'E  don't 
mean  nothink. 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Good-night,  mother. 

MRS  CLEGG.     Good-night,  my  dear  1 


ACT  m]  JANE  CLEGG  95 

She  goes  into  the  hall,  and  HENRY  CLEGG 
closes  the  door  behind  her. 
MUNCE.     Ole  girl  seems  a  bit  upset,  eih  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.      Yes. 

MUNCE.  Not  surprisin',  o'  course,  [to  CLEGG.] 
I  s'pose  you  bin  up  to  somethink  or  other.  You 
'ad  to  py  that  other  chap  a  tidy  bit,  eih  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  Mr  Munce,  I  haven't  got  the 
money  to  pay  you  !  .  .  . 

MUNCE.    [alarmed  again.]    Now,  look  'ere  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.     And  if  I  had,  I  wouldn't  pay  it. 

MUNCE.  What  you  mean  you  wouldn't  py  it. 
'E  owes  it,  dont  'e  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  don't  know,  and  I  don't  care. 
I've  just  paid  one  hundred  and  forty  pounds  that 
he'd  taken  from  his  employers  !  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Jane,  is  that  fair  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  Fair !  I've  almost  forgotten 
what  being  fair  is.  You've  told  lie  after  lie,  and 
now  at  the  end  I  find  that  the  money  you  stole 
was  not  used  to  pay  your  gambling  debts. 

MUNCE.  Did  'e  say  'e  took  money  to  py 
me? 

JANE  CLEGG.      YeS. 

MUNCE.     'E's  a  liar,  then.     I  on'y  wish  'e  'ad. 

JANE   CLEGG.      What    did    you   do   with   it, 

Henry  ?     I've  asked  you  that  so  many  times. 


96  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  in 

...    I  wonder  I  trouble  to  ask  you  again. 
You'll  only  tell  me  some  fresh  lie. 
MUNCE.     I  know  what  'e  done  with  it ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.      Munce  !    .    .    . 

MUNCE.  You  py  me  my  money,  then,  [turn- 
ing quickly  to  JANE.]  Look  'ere,  Mrs  Clegg,  it's 
'ard  on  you,  I  know,  but  it's  'ard  on  me,  too. 
I'll  be  ruined  if  I  can't  py  up  to-morrow.  I  will, 
straight.  'E  promised  faithfully  'e'd  let  me  'ave 
it.  I've  always  acted  straight.  Look  'ere,  now, 
you'll  py  me,  won't  you  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.     No.     He  can  pay  you  himself. 

MUNCE.  'Ow  can  'e  py.  'E  ain't  got  no 
money. 

JANE  CLEGG.  He  must  have  money.  He  only 
stole  his  employer's  money  a  few  days  ago,  and 
if  he  hasn't  paid  you,  he  must  have  it,  unless  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.     I  haven't  got  a  ha'penny. 

MUNCE.  My  God,  what'll  I  do.  [Starting  up 
in  anger  and  rushing  at  CLEGG.]  You  py  up,  you 
blighter  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.     Mr  Munce  ! 

MUNCE.  [Stopping  and  beginning  to  snivel.] 
Yes,  Mrs  Clegg. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Sit  down,  please.  You'll  wake 
my  children. 

MUNCE.     I'm  very  sorry.     [He  lets  his  head 


ACT  m]  JANE  CLEGG  97 

fall  on  the  table  and  begins  to  sob.]  I'm  upset,  I 
am,  that's  what  it  is. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  It's  no  good  crying  like  a 
kid!  ... 

MUNCE.  I  never  failed  to  py  before.  I  bin 
straight  I  'ave.  Oh,  Gawd !  .  .  .  [becomes 
inarticulate.] 

JANE  CLEGG.  Listen  to  me,  Mr  Munce. 
[MUNCE  groans  loudly.]  Please  sit  up,  Mr  Munce. 
It's  ridiculous  to  behave  like  that. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Of  course  it  is.  Anybody' d 
think  you  were  a  woman,  the  way  you're  going 
on  ! 

MUNCE.     I  don't  want  to  make  no  fuss  !  .  „  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  Very  well,  then,  don't  make 
any.  Now,  listen  to  me. 

MUNCE.    Yes,  Mrs  Clegg. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  have  just  paid  the  gentleman 
you  saw  here  a  few  moments  ago,  one  hundred 
and  forty  pounds  to  replace  the  money  my 
husband  stole  from  his  employer  less  than  a 
week  ago. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  You  needn't  advertise  the 
fact. 

JANE  CLEGG.  [ignoring  him.]  My  husband 
told  me  that  he  stole  the  money  to  pay  gambling 
debts  due  to  you. 


98  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  HI 

MUNCE.     'E  never  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  One  moment,  please.  It  now 
appears  that  he  has  not  paid  you  anything. 

MUNCE.     Not  a  'a'penny,  'e  'asn't. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Well,  then,  the  inference  is  that 
he  still  has  the  money  he  stole.  You  can't 
dispose  of  a  hundred  and  forty  pounds  in  a  day 
or  two  can  you  ? 

MUNCE.  [to  HENRY  CLEGG.]  Look  'ere,  Clegg, 
'ave  you  got  the  money  or  'ave  you  not  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.     I  tell  you  I  haven't. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Then  what  did  you  do  with 
it? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  haven't  got  it.  Look  here, 
I'm  not  going  to  be  cross-examined  as  if  I  were 
a  criminal !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  are  a  criminal.  You've 
robbed  your  employer. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [throwing  out  his  hands.] 
There,  Munce,  that's  the  sort  of  thing  I  have  to 
endure.  How'd  you  like  it ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  Tell  us  what  you  did  with  the 
money.  Mr  Munce  and  I  have  a  right  to  know. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Well,  you  shan't  know,  see. 
Damn  you,  I've  had  enough  of  your  questions. 
I'm  sick  of  you  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.     Yes,  Henry,  I  think  we've  both 


ACT  in]  JANE  CLEGG  99 

about  reached  the  end  of  things ;  but  that  won't 
help  Mr  Munce,  will  it  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.     I  don't  care  about  Munce  ! 

MUNCE.  [jumping  up.]  Oh,  don't  you.  Don't 
you  then.  We'll  soon  see  about  that.  I  bin 
treatin'  you  jolly  well,  I  'ave.  I  'eld  my  tongue 
all  this  time  when  I  might  'ave  said  things,  on'y 
I  didden  want  to  round  on  a  pal.  [to  JANE 
CLEGG.]  'Ere,  ast  'im  about  'is  fancy  woman ! . . . 

HENRY  CLEGG.     You  swine  ! 

MUNCE.  Go  on,  ast  'im  about  'er.  Ast  'im 
what's  the  matter  with  'er.  Go  on,  ast  'im  that. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  You  dirty  dog !  [He  rushes 
at  MUNCE,  and  they  close  and  struggle  together.] 
I'll  choke  the  life  out  of  you. 

JANE  CLEGG.  You'll  be  hanged  if  you  do  that, 
Henry  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [snorting  with  disgust.]  You're 
not  worth  killing  ! 

MUNCE.  [gasping.]  You'll  'ear  about  this, 
you  will !  I'll  'ave  you  put  in  jail  for  it,  see  ! 
If  I  don't  get  my  money,  I'll  get  somethink. 
Jus'  you  wait !  I'll  py  you  aht,  so  'elp  me  Gawd, 
I  will ! 

He  stumbles  towards  the  door. 

JANE  CLEGG.  Mr  Munce,  would  you  like  your 
money  ? 


100  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  m 

MUNCE.  It's  no  good  tryin'  to  come  it  over 
me !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  It's  twenty-five  pounds,  isn't 
it? 

MUNCE.  Yes,  that's  all !  Fancy  me  bein' 
stumped  for  twenty-five  quid  1  Me  what  never 
failed  yet,  an'  then  to  be  'alf-throttled  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  If  you'll  sit  down  for  a  little 
while  and  forget  that  you've  been  half  throttled 
perhaps  I'll  pay  the  money  to  you. 

MUNCE.  [incredulously.]  You  said  you  woulden 
py  nothink !  [He  comes  back  to  the  table,  and 
slaps  his  hand  on  it.]  Look  'ere,  I  ain't  goin' 
to  be  'umbugged  1  ... 

JANE  CLEGG.  Have  I  tried  to  humbug  you, 
Mr  Munce  ? 

MUNCE.  [in  a  puzzled  tone.]  No.  No,  you 
ain't.  That's  true  enough.  But  there's  no 
knowin'.  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  Listen,  Mr  Munce,  I'll  pay  you 
the  twenty-five  pounds  on  one  condition. 

MUNCE.    What  is  it  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  That  you  tell  me  about  my 
husband's  fancy  woman  ! 

MUNCE.     Gimme  the  money  first  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Blackguard  ! 

MUNCE.    Gentleman ! 


ACT  m]  JANE  CLEGG  101 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  haven't  got  the  money  in  the 
house,  Mr  Munce,  but  I'll  give  it  to  you  to- 
morrow. 

MUNCE.    That's  all  very  fine  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  You'll  have  to  trust  me,  Mr 
Munce.  After  all,  you've  told  most  of  the  story 
to  me  already,  haven't  you  ?  I  know  that  there 
is  a  fancy  woman.  .  .  .  Henry  didn't  deny  it 
.  .  .  and  I  understand  there  will  be  a  ...  fancy 
child  !  You  see,  the  remainder  of  the  story 
hardly  matters,  only  I'm  curious.  .  .  .  I'm  just 
curious  to  know  all  of  it. 

MUNCE.  I  don't  know  much  meself  about  it, 
on'y  one  dy  las'  week  I  saw  'im  an'  'er  talkin' 
in  the  street !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.     Yes,  in  the  street ! 

HENKY  CLEGG.  Look  here,  I  can't  stand  this. 
I'll  own  up.  It's  true. 

MUNCE.  I  said  to  'im  when  I  come  'ere  that 
last  time,  "  That  was  a  fine  bit  o'  skirt  you  'ad 
to-dy  !  "  and  then  'e  tole  me  abaht  it.  She'd 
on'y  jus'  been  to  the  doctor  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.     I  see  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  tell  you  I  own  up.  Isn't 
that  enough  ? 

MUNCE.  'E  said  if  'e  'ad  the  money  'e'd  clear 
out  of  Englan'  with  the  woman  !  .  .  . 


102  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  HI 

HENRY  CLEGG.  You're  a  pal.  So  help  me 
God,  you  are  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.     If  he  had  the  money  ?  .  .  . 

MUNCE.  Yes.  Go  to  Canada  or  some- 
where ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  Canada !  Canada !  Oh !  [Her 
nerve  fails  for  a  moment ;  but  she  recovers  her- 
self.] I  suppose  that  was  why  he  took  the 
money.  He  wanted  me  to  give  him  money  I 

HENKY  CLEGG.  I  can't  help  it.  You've  never 
understood  me,  never  tried  to.  You've  always 
sort  of  preached  at  me,  and  I'm  not  the  sort  that 
can  stand  being  preached  at.  You're  different 
from  me.  You're  hard  and  you  don't  make 
allowances.  Kitty's  more  my  match  than  you 
are.  I've  been  happy  with  her,  happier  than  I've 
ever  been  with  you,  and  that's  straight. 

JANE  CLEGG.      [to  MUNCE.]      Will  VOU  COHie  hi 

the  morning,  Mr  Munce,  for  the  money,  and  we 
can  go  to  the  solicitor  together,  and  arrange 
the  matter. 

MUNCE.  You're  not  playin'  about  with  me, 
are  you  !  You  mean  it,  don't  you  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  My  wife  means  everything 
she  says.  Don't  you  insinuate  !  .  .  . 

MUNCE.  Awright,  awright !  You'd  be  upset 
if  you  was  me. 


ACT  in]  JANE  CLEGG  103 

JANE  CLEGG.  Good-night,  Mr  Munce.  Come 
at  eleven  o'clock. 

MUNCE.  Good-night,  Mrs  Clegg.  [He  stands 
about  irresolutely.]  Look  'ere,  jus'  gimme  a 
little  IOU  for  the  money.  It  'ud  sort  of  ease 
my  mind. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [hustling  him.]  Go  on,  get 
out  of  this  !  Her  word's  good  enough  for  you. 

MUNCE.  Oh,  she's  awright.  It's  you's  the 
rotter  1  Don't  you  shove  me,  or  you  see ! 
That's  all.  See!  Don't  you  shove  me!  I'll 
'ave  you  up  !  ... 

JANE  CLEGG.  Mr  Munce,  please  remember 
that  my  children  are  asleep. 

MUNCE.  I'm  very  sorry,  Mrs  Clegg.  Well, 
look  'ere,  I  know  you're  straight.  I'll  be  easy 
in  my  mind  awright.  I'll  pop  roun'  'ere  to- 
morrer  an'  we'll  settle  it  all  up.  Goo'-night, 
Mrs  Clegg.  [He  takes  her  hand  and  shakes  it 
warmly.]  You  saved  me,  straight  you  'ave. 
Never  failed  yet,  an'  there  ain't  many  bookies 
can  sy  that !  Give  you  my  word  !  I  woulden 
'a'  bin  nasty  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.     Good-night,  Mr  Munce. 

MUNCE.  Good-night !  Good-night !  [He 
picks  up  his  hat  and  puts  it  on.]  I  be  roun'  to- 
morrer.  [He  looks  at  HENRY  CLEGG.]  You  an' 


104  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  ra 

me  ain't  friends,  see.  I  don't  want  nothink 
more  to  do  with  you.  Absolute  rotter  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Go  on  1    Get  out ! 

MUNCE.  Serve  you  right  if  she'd  let  you  go 
to  quod,  an'  your  fancy  woman  to  the  work- 
'ouse.  Tooloo  1  [He  goes  out  walking  quickly 
up  the  passage.  He  opens  the  street  door.  Holding 
the  street  door  open.]  Absolute  rotter  1  [He  goes 
out.] 

JANE  CLEGG.  [sitting  down  before  the  fire.] 
That's  true,  isn't  it,  Henry. 

HENRY  CLEGG.      What  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.     You  are  an  absolute  rotter. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  don't  know.  I'm  not  a  bad 
chap,  really.  I'm  just  weak.  I'd  be  all  right 
if  I  had  a  lot  of  money  and  a  wife  that  wasn't 
better  than  I  am.  .  .  .  Oh,  I  know,  Jane  ! 
You  are  better  than  I  am.  Any  fool  can  see 
that !  It  doesn't  do  a  chap  much  good  to  be 
living  with  a  woman  who's  his  superior,  at  least 
not  the  sort  of  chap  I  am.  I  ought  to  have 
married  a  woman  like  myself,  or  a  bit  worse. 
That's  what  Kitty  is.  She's  worse  than  I  am, 
and  that  sort  of  makes  me  love  her.  It's  differ- 
ent with  you.  I  always  feel  mean  here.  Yes, 
I  am  mean.  I  know  that ;  but  it  makes  me 
meaner  than  I  really  am  to  be  living  with  you. 


ACT  m]  JANE  CLEGG  105 

[He  sits  down  at  the  table  and  begins  to  fill  his  pipe.] 
Do  you  understand,  Jane  ?  Somehow,  the  mean 
things  I  do  that  don't  amount  to  much,  I  can't 
tell  'em  to  you,  or  carry  'em  off  as  if  they  weren't 
mean,  and  I  do  meaner  things  to  cover  them  up. 
That's  the  way  of  it.  I  don't  act  like  that  with 
Kitty. 

JANE  CLEGG.     It's  funny,  isn't  it,  Henry. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [lighting  his  pipe.]  Yes,  I 
suppose  it  is.  Damned  funny  1 

JANE  CLEGG.  It's  so  funny  that  we  married 
at  all.  I  used  to  think  you  were  so  fine  before  I 
married  you.  You  were  so  jolly  and  free  and 
light-hearted.  .  .  .  Somehow,  I  feel  as  if  I'd 
lost  you  in  the  church  that  day  !  Do  you  know  ? 
It's  as  if  I  went  there  to  find  you,  and  found 
someone  else. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  And  you're  not  like  what  I 
thought  you  were  I 

JANE  CLEGG.     No.     [She  picks  up  her  sewing 
and  makes  a  few  stitches.    HENRY  CLEGG  gets  up 
from  the  table  and  draws  a  chair  up  to  the  fire. 
He  sits  for  a  second  or  two  smoking.]    Henry, 
have  you  spent  all  that  money  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  haven't  spent  any  of 
it.  I've  got  .  .  .  well,  I  have  spent  some 
of  it. 


106  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  in 

JANE  CLEGG.  Why  didn't  you  pay  Mr  Munce, 
then? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  What !  Not  likely.  I  need 
all  of  it ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  Yes,  I  suppose  you  do.  When 
are  you  going  to  Canada  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.      Eh  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  You're  going  with  her,  aren't 
you? 

HENRY  CLEGG.     [after  a  short  pause.]    Yes. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  suppose  the  money  you  spent 
was  on  the  tickets  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.      Yes. 

JANE  CLEGG.    When  are  you  going  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG  [with  a  great  effort.]  To- 
morrow 1 

JANE  CLEGG.  To-morrow  !  .  .  .  [She  puts  her 
sewing  down,  and  looks  steadily  in  front  of  her. 
HENRY  CLEGG  gets  up  and  begins  to  pace  the  room.] 
I  suppose  that  was  why  you  were  so  anxious 
that  I  should  pay  the  money  to  Mr  Morrison 
to-night.  If  he'd  gone  to  Mr  Harper  this 
evening  you  might  have  been  arrested  before 
you  had  time  to  get  away  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.      YeS. 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  tried  to  kiss  me !  .  .  . 
Oh  !  Oh  !  You  Judas  ! 


ACT  in]  JANE  CLEGG  107 

HENRY  CLEGG.  What  could  I  do  ?  I  had  to 
think  of  Kitty.  She's  frightened,  Jane,  damned 
frightened.  She  didn't  want  to  have  a  child, 
and  she's  scared.  If  I'd  been  arrested  !  .  .  . 
Oh,  it's  horrible  to  think  of  her  sitting  somewhere 
waiting,  and  me  not  there  1 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  used  to  wait,  and  you  weren't 
there. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Yes,  but  she  hasn't  any 
spirit. 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  wouldn't  have  told  me,  or 
your  mother  ?  Johnnie  and  Jenny  !  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  wouldn't  have  liked  leaving 
Jenny.  Johnnie's  your  child. 

JANE  CLEGG.     What's  Kitty  like,  Henry  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.     She's  prettier  than  you. 

JANE  CLEGG.      Yes. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Well,  it's  hard  to  say.  You're 
a  finer  woman  than  she  is,  but  she's  my  sort,  and 
you're  not.  [He  pauses  in  his  pacing,  and  then 
comes  to  the  fireplace  and  stands  before  her.] 
You're  a  rum  sort  of  woman,  Jane.  There  aren't 
many  women  would  talk  about  this  the  way 
you  do. 

JANE  CLEGG.      No  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  It's  just  as  if  we  were  strangers 
talking  about  something  that  didn't  matter. 


108  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  ra 

JANE  CLEGG.  It  is  like  that,  isn't  it,  only  I 
have  two  children,  and  you're  their  father. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [sitting  down.]  Well,  I  don't 
know  !  It's  a  funny  sort  of  a  world  ;  mixed-up 
like! 

JANE  CLEGG.    Does  Kitty  live  far  from  here  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Other  side  of  the  town. 

JANE  CLEGG.      Alone  ? 
HENRY  CLEGG.      Lodgings  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.    What  does  she  do  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.     She's  in  a  shop  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  Yes,  she  must  be  very  fright- 
ened. .  .  .  What  train  do  you  catch  to- 
morrow ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  You  speak  as  if  you  wanted 
me  to  go. 

JANE  CLEGG.  How  else  would  you  have  me 
speak  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  It  doesn't  seem  right  some- 
how. I  mean,  I'm  your  husband  and  all  that. 
I  should  have  thought  you'd  want  me  to  stay. 

JANE  CLEGG.     You  wouldn't  stay,  would  you  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.     Well,  no  !     I  promised  Kitty  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  keep  the  promises  you 
make  to  her.  [He  nods  his  head.]  Why  should 
I  wish  you  to  stay  with  me  ?  You  are  a  different 
man  from  the  one  I  married.  You  don't  love 


ACT  in]  JANE  CLEGG  109 

me.  You've  never  been  loyal  to  me.  There 
isn't  any  sense  in  living  with  a  man  if  he's  not 
loyal !  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  can't  make  you  out.  It 
doesn't  seem  right,  somehow.  I  don't  pretend 
to  be  a  religious  chap  !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  It  wouldn't  be  much  good, 
would  it  ? 

HENRY  CLEGG.  But  still  I  believe  in  religion. 
I  mean  to  say,  I  know  I'm  not  doing  the  right 
thing.  I'm  going  away  with  Kitty,  but  I  know 
I'm  doing  wrong.  It's  religion  tells  me  that. 
You  don't  seem  to  understand  that.  You  talk 
as  if  it  was  just  a  case  of  you  and  me  not  suiting 
.  .  .  and  that  was  all.  It's  not  right.  You  ask 
mother  !  She  wouldn't  talk  as  you're  talking. 
That's  because  she's  religious.  If  she  were  you, 
she  wouldn't  let  me  go  quietly.  She'd  tear 
Kitty  to  bits. 

JANE  CLEGG.  I  suppose  so.  [Rising  and 
extending  her  hand  to  him.]  Good-bye,  Henry  I 

HENRY  CLEGG.     How  do  you  mean  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.  Good-bye,  of  course.  You'll 
go  to  Kitty  to-night.  It  ...  it'll  be  more 
convenient  to-morrow. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [standing  up  and  gaping  at  her.] 
My  God  1 


110  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  ra 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  didn't  think  I'd  let  you 
stay  here  to-night  with  me !  Oh,  Henry,  it 
wouldn't  be  decent !  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.     You  mean  I'm  to  go  now. 

JANE  CLEGG.      YeS. 
HENRY  CLEGG.      But   .    .    . 

JANE  CLEGG.  There  can  be  no  argument 
about  it.  You  must  go  now.  It  would  be  like 
committing  a  sin  to  let  you  stay  with  me  to- 
night ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  don't  understand  you. 
Damn  it,  you're  condoning  the  offence. 

JANE  CLEGG.  [again  holding  out  her  hand.] 
Good-night,  Henry,  and  good-bye.  I'm  very  tired. 

HENRY  CLEGG.    You  really  mean  it  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.      YeS. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  I  can't  understand  you.  [He 
looks  about  him  irresolutely.]  I  can't  go  off 
like  this  without  seeing  the  youngsters  and  the 
mater !  .  .  . 

JANE  CLEGG.  You'll  have  to  go  to-morrow, 
so  it  won't  make  much  difference  to  you  if  you 
go  to-night ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.     You  really  do  mean  it  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.      I  do. 

HENRY  CLEGG.      Oh,  Well  !     .     .     .     I  Suppose  I 

can  go  up  and  look  at  the  kids  ? 


ACT  m]  JANE  CLEGG  111 

JANE  CLEGG.  You  might  wake  them,  and 
they'd  wonder  !  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.     I  could  have  a  peep  at  them  ! 

JANE  CLEGG.     It  would  be  better  not. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  All  right !  [He  goes  into  the 
hall  and  puts  on  his  hat  and  coat.  He  returns  to 
the  room.]  How'll  you  explain  ? 

JANE  CLEGG.     I'll  tell  your  mother  !  .  .  . 

HENRY  CLEGG.  You'll  look  after  her,  won't 
you  ?  She's  not  a  bad  old  soul  though  she  does 
get  on  my  nerves. 

JANE  CLEGG.     Yes,  I'll  look  after  her. 
There  is  silence  for  a  few  moments. 

HENRY  CLEGG.  Well !  [He  looks  at  her  as  if 
he  does  not  know  what  to  do.] 

JANE  CLEGG.     Good-bye  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [taking  her  hand.]  Good-bye, 
Jane.  I've  not  been  a  good  husband.  .  .  . 
You're  well  rid  of  me.  [He  tries  to  put  his  arms 
round  her,  but  she  struggles  out  of  his  reach.]  You 
might  give  me  a  kiss  before  I  go. 

JANE  CLEGG.  [covering  her  face  with  her  hand 
and  speaking  like  one  who  is  horrified.]  I  couldn't, 
I  couldn't.  It  would  be  a  sin  ! 

HENRY  CLEGG.  [with  an  affectation  of  jaunti- 
ness.]  Well,  of  course,  if  that's  how  you  look  at 
it.  Good-bye,  once  more  ! 


112  JANE  CLEGG  [ACT  ra 

JANE   CLEGG.    [she  turns   her  back  to  him.] 

Good-bye ! 
HENRY  CLEGG.     Well,  I'm  damned  !     [He  goes 

into  the  hall,  and  puts  his  hand  on  the  door.    He 

•waits  for  a  moment.]    I'm  off  now. 

She  does  not  reply.  He  opens  the  door,  and 
then  waits  a  little  while.  She  does  not  move. 
He  goes  out  and  closes  the  door  after  him. 
She  stands  for  a  few  moments  gazing  into 
the  fire.  Then  she  turns  down  the  light  and 
goes  upstairs  to  bed. 


CURTAIN 


TURNBULL   AND  SPEARS,    PRINTERS,    EDINBURGH 


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